ALERT - ZIMBABWE

9 October 2003

Journalist manhandled, equipment stolen

SOURCE: Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA), Windhoek

(MISA/IFEX) - On 3 October 2003, a vigilante group attacked Cyril Zenda, a
senior journalist with the "Financial Gazette" newspaper, robbing him of
5000 Zimbabwe dollars (approx. US$6) and his mobile phone.

Zenda told MISA-Zimbabwe that he was spotted by a vigilante group known as
Chipangano when he disembarked from a bus at Harare's main bus terminus. He
said the group pulled him to a secluded area and began interrogating him
about the message on a MISA-Zimbabwe t-shirt he was wearing.

The t-shirt bore the message "Free My Voice: Free the Airwaves". Zenda told
MISA-Zimbabwe that the group demanded to know what the message meant and why
he was wearing a t-shirt bearing an anti-government slogan. Zenda said he
was lucky that the group did not realise he was a journalist for the
"Financial Gazette". He lied to the group, telling them the t-shirt had been
a gift from his younger brother. According to Zenda, the group then
proceeded to tear the t-shirt from his body and burn it. His mobile phone
and money were also forcibly taken.

BACKGROUND:
Chipangano is a vigilante group associated with the ruling party, the
Zimbabwe African National Union Patriotic Front (Zanu PF). Despite numerous
complaints of harassment from the public and opposition members, no concrete
action has yet been taken by the police to dismantle the group.

Zenda said he did not bother to report the matter to police and walked away
when he was released by the group. During the incident, his attackers openly
boasted that nothing would ever happen to them. Although he was not injured,
Zenda said he felt "traumatised" by the confrontation.

For further information, contact Zoe Titus or Kaitira Kandjii, Regional
Information Coordinator, MISA, Street Address: 21 Johann Albrecht Street,
Mailing Address; Private Bag 13386 Windhoek, Namibia, tel: +264 61 232975,
fax: +264 61 248016, e-mail: [email protected] or [email protected],
Internet: http://www.misa.org/

The information contained in this alert is the sole responsibility of MISA.
In citing this material for broadcast or publication, please credit MISA.
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