Journalists in Zimbabwe have never had it easy. The Mugabe regime
has a history of arresting and detaining reporters it believes are guilty of
crimes such as “undermining public confidence in a law enforcement agency”.
Now, with an election looming, the arrests of a former Mail
& Guardian journalist and his editor in Harare this week have
drawn into sharp focus the climate of insecurity that persists in the country.
In particular, the arrests have highlighted the fear surrounding the
post-election future of the leading members of ZANU-PF, many of whom have
allegations of gross human rights violations, dating back to the country’s
bloody 2008 election, hanging over their heads.
Owen Gagare, chief reporter at the Zimbabwe Independent and
the Zimbabwe Independent’s Editor Dumisani Muyela were
arrested on Tuesday and charged with “publishing or communicating false
statements prejudicial to the state”. They were charged under section 31 of
Zimbabwe’s Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act. Their alleged crime is
the publication of a story, which revealed that Prime Minister Morgan
Tsvangirai and his Movement for Democratic Change were talking to the country’s
security chiefs about various post-election scenarios, in the event that Robert
Mugabe’s Zanu-PF loses the elections
As if how dare anyone imagine or even plan for a future where
Zimbabwe is not ruled by President Mugabe and ZANU-PF, the on-going climate of
fear in the country contradicts the commitments to peace made by politicians. Last
week a senior reporter from News Day was also summoned to the
police station, and another reporter was also arrested. The police have
previously issued threatening statements and have warned journalists not to allow
themselves to be “used” by the opposition.
The Southern African Development
Community must define and enforce the necessary minimum conditions for a
credible vote, and ensure the country does not rush into elections before there
is clarity and consensus on – and implementation of necessary reforms.
Justice Melusi Sibanda
Organising Secretary – ROHR Zimbabwe/Bradford
Branch
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