MEDIA ALERT

26 OCTOBER 2002

POLICE OFFICERS THREATEN TO SHOOT JOURNALISTS

Blessing Zulu a reporter with the Zimbabwe Independent and The Daily News
Chief Reporter, Pedzisai Ruhanya were threatened by police officers when
they went to cover the funeral of opposition Member of Parliament Learnmore
Jongwe who died in remand prison on Tuesday 2 October.

The two reporters had visited the home of the deceased MP when police
officers numbering 30 and led by Inspector Dowa of the Law and Order
Section arrived at the residence of the deceased legislator brandishing
guns. A fracas ensued between the police and MDC youths who were at the
funeral as the officers forced their way into the house. When the two
reporters approached Dowa for a comment on the purpose of the visit by the
police he threatened to arrest and shoot them if ever they wrote anything
about the event.
"If you write anything about what has transpired here I will not hesitate to
arrest you and shoot you afterwards," Dowa is reported to have said.

Simon Jongwe the younger brother of the MP told the reporters that the
police were not clear on what they wanted.
"Initially they said they wanted to search the house for two murder
suspects," said Simon Jongwe.

Background

Learnmore Jongwe was an MP for the opposition MDC representing the
high-density suburb of Kuwadzana in Harare. He was arrested in July 2002 for
the alleged murder of his wife in a domestic dispute. He died on Tuesday 22
October in remand prison in Harare.
END

Rashweat Mukundu
Research and Information Officer
MISA-Zimbabwe
221 Fife Ave
Box HR 8113
Harare
Zimbabwe

Phone: 00 263 4 721 841, 735 441-2
Cell : 00 263 4 011 602 685
E mail: [email protected] [2]