The Voluntary Media Council of Zimbabwe (VMCZ) condemns in the strongest terms the arrest and detention of Sunday Mail Editor, Mabasa Sasa, investigative Editor Brian Chitemba and reporter Tinashe Farawo, over a story which alleged that a syndicate comprising police officers, Parks and Wildlife Management Authority rangers and Asians were involved in the latest spate of elephant killings in Hwange National Park.
The trio’s arrest is outrageous and unacceptable in a country that purports to uphold freedom of expression and freedom of the media.
VMCZ expresses concern that the arrest of the three newsmen happened while journalists worldwide were commemorating the International Day to end Impunity for Crimes against Journalists.
Suffice to say, it is the role of the media to play the watchdog role and be the guardian of public accountability, including on law enforcement agents and other public officials.
VMCZ calls on authorities to observe the right of journalists to freely record and report on the activities of police as they are public officials whose actions are of public interest.
In this instance the police had an obligation to give the media their side of the story and indicate the level of investigations they have conducted over the published story.
Arresting of media practitioners without conducting any investigations is a violation of human rights and such an approach is patently undemocratic and can only be viewed as an affront to the right to freedom of expression and access to information that is guaranteed in Zimbabwe’s Constitution.
It is in this regard that the VMCZ wishes to express deep regret that police would seek recourse by arresting journalists without thorough investigations. Issues of grievances against the media can be resolved amicably without having to send journalists to police stations or interrogation without tangible evidence.
The VMCZ is concerned, and reiterates that such a precedent if left unchecked would lead to many unwarranted arrests of journalists and in the process militate against efforts to report factually, truthfully and without bias.
The VMCZ urges aggrieved parties, and the police in this instance, to make use of the VMCZ Media Complaints Mechanism which allows parties to resolve complaints against the media in an amicable and expeditious manner.
VMCZ takes this opportunity to call upon relevant government agencies to respect constitutional provisions on media freedoms and desist from using an intimidating approach on the media.
The VMCZ, strongly believe in an ethical, accountable and professional media and these three important tenets cannot be achieved if media continue to operate under threat and constant fear from law enforcement agents and government institutions.
Loughty Dube
(VMCZ Executive Director)
