Amnesty International, AI, has condemned the police raid on an online news portal in Zimbabwe.
A statement signed by Muleya Mwananyanda, Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for Southern Africa on Thursday described the raid as an assault on the right to freedom of expression as well as media freedom.
AI disclosed that the police had raided the offices of 263 Chat after one of its journalists filmed the removal of street vendors in Harare.
“Police fired tear gas into the newsroom after chasing reporter Lovejoy Mtongwiza to the website’s offices. The journalist had been taking photos and videos of the police forcing out street vendors in the Zimbabwean capital,” it said.
It called on the authorities to end the attack on the media and carry out a prompt and thorough investigation into the attack.
It also stressed that the perpetrators must be identified and brought to justice.
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Mwananyanda said: “Today’s attack on the 263 Chat offices was designed to send a chilling message to journalists and shows the lengths the Zimbabwean police are prepared to go to muzzle media freedom.
“The authorities must end the attack on the media and launch a prompt, thorough and effective investigation into this attack and ensure that all suspected perpetrators are identified and brought to justice.”
263 Chat is an online news site which reports on political, economic and social issues in Zimbabwe.
According to the statement, reporter Lovejoy Mtongwiza was deployed to the city centre to take pictures of a Zimbabwe Republic Police, ZRP, and Harare City Council operation to remove street vendors.
When a group of police and council officers pursued Mtongwiza, he ran away to his employer’s office. The police followed him and fired tear gas into the 263 Chat newsroom, where 14 other journalists were working. Officers also seized a mobile phone from one of the reporters.
