JOURNALISTS DEMAND ACTION

…FOR ZAF OFFICERS’ TORTURE OF REPORTER

THE Zambia Union of Journalists (ZUJ) has demanded punishment for Zambia Air Force (ZAF) officers involved in abducting and pulling Daily Nation sports reporter Michael Miyoba’s genitals.

ZUJ vice president Alex Njovu called on the relevant authorities to immediately investigate the case and hold those responsible accountable.

Miyoba, was on Monday evening captured and tortured by ZAF soldiers assigned to chase away street vendors from the central business district in Lusaka despite having identified himself as a journalist.

One female officer reportedly pulled Miyoba’s genitals before slapping him in the face after he had identified himself as a journalist.

The servicemen believed that the reporter had taken pictures of them while they were chasing the vendors from the streets.

The case has since being reported to the Ministries of Home Affairs and Defence.

In an interview with the Daily Nation, Mr Njovu described the incident as a “criminal act”, demanding that ZAF apologise and take full responsibility for the wrath unleased on the reporter.

He stressed that the ZAF officers’ duty was to protect and not to attack innocent citizens.

“We want an answer as to why a female ZAF officer dragged the harmless journalist and savagely pulled his genitals in public. The young man is traumatised and so we are calling on ZAF Commander, Lieutenant General Eric Chimense to cage these officers, we demand exemplary punishment.

“It is getting out of hand now, last week there was a story of a female journalist from ZANIS beaten and made to do frog jump by soldiers. We strongly condemn any brutality against journalists, especially by ZAF officers whose duty is to protect,” Mr Njovu said.

He said the ZAF officers must stop forthwith acts of repression directed at the journalists, saying journalists were partners in development and should be allowed to do their job freely.

“Journalists are stakeholders, we have risked our lives by going to Cholera epicentres without even protective clothing for the love of mother Zambia. We have written stories to inform people of the dangers of cholera and it can be prevented, then in the end we get attacked and harassed,” he said.

Mr Njovu further urged the media community in Zambia to work together in continuing to promote and defend freedom and independence of the media.

He said it was intolerable for journalists to continue being attacked in the 21 century.

“Torture of journalists must come to an end, all perpetrators of these human rights violations must be brought to book and prosecuted if the rule of law is to prevail in Zambia,” he said.