Zim: Police summon freelance journalist for questioning

1 Apr 2010

HARARE: Freelance journalist Stanley Gama was on 30 March 2010 summoned to Harare Central Police Station where he was questioned in connection with an article that appeared in the Zimbabwean edition of The Sunday Times published in South Africa.

Gama who was accompanied by his lawyer Selby Hwacha, was summoned by Chief Superintendent Chrispen Makedenge and Detective Inspector Muchada of the Law and Order section following publication of the story in question in the newspaper's weekly issue of 28 March 2010.

The story in question exposed alleged irregularities and corruption in the acquisition of land by local government and urban development Minister Ignatius Chombo and Harare businessperson Phillip Chiyangwa.

Gama was interrogated by Muchada on the sources of his information before recording a statement pertaining to the allegations raised in the story. Gama was released without charges almost an hour after the questioning and recording of his statement.

This comes barely two days after the Minister of Media, Information and Publicity Webster Shamu, said the harassment and arrests of journalists conducting their lawful professional duties should stop.

The minister made the rare remarks on the harassment, arrests and detention of journalists when addressing delegates at the Federation of African Journalists conference in Harare on 28 March 2010. Minister Shamu called for media freedom in Africa to allow journalists to discharge their duties without fear of victimisation by authorities.

Source: Media Institute of Southern Africa