Zimbabwe Sentinel
CHIREDZI – FOUR journalists were assaulted when they attempted to take pictures of Andrew Bere as he was led out of the court yesterday outside the Chiredzi Magistrate Court at the end of Bere’s bail hearing.
The four journalists harassed are Godfrey Mtimba, a freelance journalist, Patrick Chitongo of Chiredzi Flame newspaper, Morris Bishi – Masvingo Mirror and Tawanda Mangoma – Zimpapers Chiredzi.
Bere is accused of defrauding United States of America taxpayer funds amounting to 7 million USD dollars during his stay in the country.
Alleged perpetrators of the assault are family members from Bere’s family.
The journalists were pushed and harassed by the group estimated to be around 20 people, with Chitongo getting kicked in the process and family members issuing verbal death threats to the Chiredzi based journalist.
Zimbabwe Prison Services members noted that journalists had no right to take pictures of the accused without prior authority to do so from the state.
Meanwhile, the four journalists have lodged a formal report of assault at the Chiredzi Police, under case RRB No.3479828.
In a statement, Media Institute of Southern Africa (Misa) Zimbabwe urged members of the public to approach the Voluntary Media Council of Zimbabwe with complaints on the content published in the media instead of assaulting or hindering journalists from doing their job.
MISA reiterated its position that media freedom, freedoms of expression and access to information are the cornerstones of the practice of journalism and these are constitutionally guaranteed and must be respected.
