The five, who were arrested alongside activists, are Garikai Chaunza, Chris Mahove, Edgar Gweshe, James Jemwa and Khumbulani Zamuchiya.
Since last Friday, activists have been protesting Mphoko’s continued stay at the hotel which has reportedly cost the tax payer over $300, 000.
The journalists were held for 6 hours at Harare Central Police station before being released without charges after the arrival of their lawyer, Obey Shava of Mbidzo, Muchadehama and Makoni legal practitioners.
“The arrest was illegal from whatever angle that you want to look at it from, first of all these journalists identified themselves and informed the police that they were on duty and the police ought to have known that in terms of the constitution the journalists are allowed to cover any news, and it is their right to freedom of expression and the right to freedom of the media and the police should not have arrested them,†Shava told reporters.
“To make matters worse, when they were taken to Harare central police station they were detained for more than 6 hours without being formally charged, and as I am speaking to you they have just been released without a formal charge being preferred against them which makes the whole arrest an illegal one,†he said.
Post published in: Featured