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ALERT - ZIMBABWE

5 December 2003

Journalist assaulted and abducted, equipment confiscated

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

(MISA/IFEX) - On 30 November 2003, Bright Chibvuri, an editor for "The
Worker" newspaper, was kidnapped by alleged Zimbabwe African National Union
Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) youths and state security agents in Kadoma,
approximately 292 kilometres from the capital, Harare. The incident occurred
while Chibvuri was covering a parliamentary by-election.

Chibvuri was abducted in Waverley suburb at approximately 8:00 a.m. (local
time) while on his way to meet the presiding elections officer for a
briefing on the election scenario. The youths assaulted him and dragged him
to a secluded spot where he was ordered to identify himself.

Chibvuri told them he was a journalist for "The Worker", a weekly newspaper
owned by the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU). The kidnappers
accused him of working for an anti-government paper that promotes opposition
interests. They also said the ZCTU is the same as the opposition Movement
for Democratic Change (MDC) and, as such, they viewed him as being part of
the MDC.

When Chibvuri showed the accreditation card he has from the
government-appointed Media and Information Commission (MIC) to his
assailants, the youths insisted that they do not recognise the cards. His
belongings, which included a Pentax camera, passport, national identity card
and clothing, were confiscated by the youths. According to Chibvuri, the
incident took place in the presence of uniformed police officers.

Chibvuri told MISA-Zimbabwe that he was later held at a council hall where
the youths were camped out. At approximately 3:00 p.m., he was taken to
another place, which appeared to be a bakery. He was again beaten and thrown
in a dark room. The kidnappers slapped him several times and kicked him in
the genitals before one of the "leaders" of the group stopped the assault.
Chibvuri told MISA-Zimbabwe that he was suffering from a persistent earache
and was seeking medical attention.

The editor said that he became aware that a ZANU-PF senior official,
identified only as Jamayi, owned the building. Chibvuri was detained
overnight at the "bakery" and released at approximately 9:00 a.m. on 1
December. He told MISA-Zimbabwe that Jamayi took him back to the council
hall in his car, where he was instructed to leave Kadoma.

When Chibvuri asked about his equipment, passport and clothing, he was
referred to the Kadoma central police, where the officer in charge told him
that his belongings had been confiscated by the Central Intelligence
Operatives (CIO).

The officer in charge refused to record or open a docket of the kidnapping
and property loss. A police officer identified as Washington accompanied
Chibvuri to the Kadoma CIO offices, where he was questioned about his
political allegiances, the types of stories he writes and his newspaper's
political affiliation. The CIO informed Chibvuri that they did not have his
equipment and clothing. They also warned him that there was bound to be a
lot of violence after the election and they advised him to leave the town
and inquire about his belongings at a later date.

Chibvuri told MISA-Zimbabwe that he telephoned the Kadoma central police
station on 2 December and spoke with Constable Magidi, who confirmed that
his belongings had not yet been found.

Officers at the police station refused to respond to queries from
MISA-Zimbabwe.

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 61 232 975,
fax: +264 61 248 016, e-mail: [email protected] [2] or [email protected] [3],
Internet: http://www.misa.org [4]

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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