LONDON - Fungi Kwaramba who writes for The Zimbabwean reports that police from the Law and Order section have intensified their monitoring of the media in the country with several officers from the department attending press clubs and media workshops disguised as reporters from the police Outpost magazine.
ZUJ secretary general Foster Dongozi said the way the police is now interfering with the activities of the press is shocking and a clear indication of desperation that is meant to prevent journalists from freely carrying out their duties.
We are aware that police are now attending journalists activities. This intrusion only reflects a deep rooted paranoia from the government of the country who would like to silence the media, its a further clampdown on the media, said Dongozi.
Four journalists including the editor of The Standard, Nevanji Madanhire and his report Nqobani Nldovu have been arrested in the past two months while the police have a warrant of arrest out for Wilf Mbanga, who is based in Britain from where he publishes The Zimbabwean newspaper.
It is a shame that the once great police force of Zimbabwe is now just a political instrument being used to suppress the masses of Zimbabwe. In-fact the police in Zimbabwe today is a mere extension of ZANU-PF and is used to advance the interests of ZANU-PF. The attack on the Zimbabwe media by the police is deeply regrettable indeed. This attack on free press is a criminal offence and whoever responsible for this must be brought to justice. All police officers engaged in this exercise have to know that they are not fit to put on the uniform. They are no longer police officers but ordinary criminals who must be prosecuted and jailed.
Mugabe and ZANU-PF have a plan to hypnotise the Zimbabwean electorate with cheap propaganda from the ZBC and other state controlled outlets. The arrests of journalists cannot be allowed to continue. Tsvangirayi and the MDC should never have been fooled by Mugabe and his thugs into forming a coalition. How do you explain the fact that after two years of the GNU, the ZBC still dominates the airwaves? This is not right and it must be challenged. Exiled journalists are ready to come home and serve the masses of Zimbabwe. But first lets get rid of this evil ZANU-PF system.
Mugabe still talks about pirate radio stations broadcasting into Zimbabwe and says the MDC should help to stop these broadcasts. Tell this dictator to shut up and tune in to SW Radio Africa everyday! Why should anyone listen to those robots at ZBC busy dishing out ZANU-PF propaganda?
People of Zimbabwe arise and unite against this dictatorship. Lets stand up to these bullies and give them their marching orders. Lets declare that Enough is Enough, and get rid of Mugabe once and for all. ZANU-PF does not deserve the patience of the people of Zimbabwe. For 30 years they have ruled with an iron fist, but we now say that Enough is Enough. – DANMORE MUNYUKI
Post published in: News