Journalists held for ‘breaking virus rules’

TWO journalists have been arrested in Zimbabwe on suspicion of contravening coronavirus regulations, a police spokesperson said yesterday.

The two journalists also refused to obey a police officer’s order, spokesperson Paul Nyathi said.

Both were charged in court on Saturday and are being held in custody, until their bail hearing tomorrow.

Human rights organisations strongly condemned the arrests and called for the release of the journalists.

“The Zimbabwe authorities should immediately set free the two journalists and drop the spurious charges of violating Covid-19 regulations that they’re facing,” said Dewa Mavhinga, who heads Human Rights Watch in South Africa.

“The two were arrested in the course of doing their duties which are classified as essential services under the Covid-19 regulations… This amounts to muzzling of the media and severely undermines attempts by Zimbabwe to present itself as a country respectful of the rule of law and human rights,” Mavhinga pointed out.

The journalists were arrested in Harare on Friday, as they sought to interview three members of the opposition in hospital who had allegedly been abducted, according to the charge sheet.

After consulting with the hospital, police decided not to let the journalists into the hospital, in accordance with the coronavirus regulations.

The journalists are accused of entering the next day through a back door and then failing to keep to the social-distancing regulations, the charge sheet said.

The journalists had permission from the victims and the hospital to enter the premises and ask questions, according to Paidamoyo Saurombe, the journalists’ legal representative.

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