Zimbabwean photojournalist detained for taking shots of police action

Harare - Police in Harare arrested The Standard photojournalist Boldwin Hungwe while he was taking pictures of events as people scrambled for goods at South African-owned Makro shop after an invasion by the price control police.

The editor of the newspaper, Davison Maruziva, told MISA-Zimbabwe that Hungwe was arrested at the shop in the afternoon while on duty by two police officers who also seized his camera.

Maruziva informed MISA-Zimbabwe that the taking of photos incensed the police as they battled to contain a scramble at the shop, resulting in police dogs being unleashed on prospective customers. Tens of people were injured in the process, including soldiers and police officers who were in a separate queue from that of the public.

Maruziva informed MISA-Zimbabwe that he rushed to Makro and tried to negotiate the release of Hungwe without success. Hungwe was eventually taken and detained at the Harare central police station for an hour before being released on the instructions of police spokesperson Oliver Mandipaka.

His camera was later returned.

Source: MISA