(MISA/IFEX) – Ignatius Pamire, the interim secretary of Zimbabwe’s leading football team, Dynamos, threatened to kill sports writers for allegedly writing negatively about his administration, according to reports carried in “The Herald” and “The Daily News” on 2 May 2002. Pamire warned sports writers who were attending a sports function in the capital, Harare, that […]
(MISA/IFEX) – Ignatius Pamire, the interim secretary of Zimbabwe’s leading football team, Dynamos, threatened to kill sports writers for allegedly writing negatively about his administration, according to reports carried in “The Herald” and “The Daily News” on 2 May 2002.
Pamire warned sports writers who were attending a sports function in the capital, Harare, that they must report positively on him and his team or risk being killed. Pamire said that he gave the reporters such a strong warning because they “deserved it.” Pamire specifically targeted “The Herald” sports editor Robson Sharuko and senior reporter Petros Kausiyo, and “The Daily News” sports reporter Simba Rushwaya.
Phillip Mugadza, the team’s chairperson, later apologized to the reporters. “I spoke to Pamire and he said you are inciting Dynamos fans to beat him up,” said Mugadza. Dynamos has experienced a spate of losses which have turned the team’s fans against the leadership. “On behalf of the Dynamos football club, I want to make it clear that the club does not condone violence or the harassment of journalists. Dynamos is a club which will be there forever but clubs come and go,” read the apology from Mugadza.
