The Voluntary Media Council (VMCZ) has lamented an upsurge in the harassment of media personnel in the country, mostly perpetrated by law-enforcement agents, who are normally expected to protect the journalists and members of the public.
By Byron Mutingwende
Speaking in Bulawayo at the organisation’s Annual General Meeting on Friday 30 September 2016, the VMCZ Board Chairperson, Alec Muchadehama bemoaned the fact that several journalists had been detained and assaulted by members of the uniformed forces while going about their lawful and constitutional duties.
“The VMCZ has expressed concern at the heavy-handed manner the police have treated the media. We have issued several statements condemning the police’s behavior and calling for the protection of members of the Fourth Estate.
“The VMCZ continues to urge the police to desist from harassing the media and instead they should be protecting the journalists from unruly elements hindering members of the press from executing their duties,” Muchadehama said.
The VMCZ however commended efforts by its partners, led by the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA-Zimbabwe), who engaged the police to register concerns at the escalating ill treatment of journalists by the police.
Source: Spiked Zw
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