SA demands Tanzania explain arrest of journos
Pair released after international outcry
South African journalist Angela Quintal and her Kenyan colleague Muthoki Mumo‚ who were detained by law enforcement in Tanzania‚ have been given their passports back.
“The high commissioner of South Africa in Tanzania‚ Mr Thami Mseleku‚ has informed the minister of international relations‚ Lindiwe Sisulu‚ that passports of a South African journalist and that of her Kenyan colleague have been returned‚” the department of international relations said in a statement yesterday.
Quintal and Mumo were released following their detention on Wednesday.
Mseleku‚ according to the department‚ has been instructed by Sisulu to gather all facts around their detention and report to Pretoria.
“Following meetings with the Tanzanian authorities this morning‚ the high commissioner has indicated that the two journalists are now free to leave Tanzania.”
Said Sisulu: “We are happy that this matter has been resolved‚ the two journalists have their passports‚ and they can travel today.”
The African Editors Forum (TAEF) yesterday condemned the arrests. “TAEF has for long been concerned about the deterioration of media freedom, amongst other freedoms, within Tanzania,” said TAEF chairperson Jovial Rantao.
TAEF said Africa needed strong, free and independent media to act as a watchdog over public institutions.
“Media freedom is a basic human right as well as an indispensable constituent of democracy in every African country. Citizens in all African states will not be free until all media on the continent is free.
“Governments, who have pledged to uphold freedom of the media, must walk the talk and stop harassing and detaining journalists and editors for doing their work,” he said.