(MISA/IFEX) – Three freelance photographers were arrested on Thursday 26 April 2001 by President Mugabe’s security personnel after taking pictures of Mugabe as he toured stands at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair, “The Daily News” reported on 30 April. The photographers, who were officially accredited to cover the fair, were approached by plainclothes security people […]
(MISA/IFEX) – Three freelance photographers were arrested on Thursday 26 April 2001 by President Mugabe’s security personnel after taking pictures of Mugabe as he toured stands at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair, “The Daily News” reported on 30 April.
The photographers, who were officially accredited to cover the fair, were approached by plainclothes security people suspected to be Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) officers who asked them why they were taking pictures of the president. The photographers were handcuffed in full view of journalists and visitors to the fair.
“We spent the whole night in the cells without being charged. In the morning we were told that we had violated the Law and Order (Maintenance) Act,” one of the arrested photographers said.
The three photographers, who asked not to be named for fear of victimisation, were taken to Bulawayo Central police station, where they were detained and then released in the late afternoon on 27 April, after paying $180 (US$3) admission of guilt fines under the Law and Order (Maintenance) Act. According to “The Daily News”, Bulawayo police refused to comment on the details of the section under which the photographers were charged. One of the photographers said he was asked by the CIO officers what he intended to do with the photographs, since he did not represent any organisation.
“We normally take photographs of the President as he visits the stands because the owners of the stands will want to retain their own personal photographs of the President,” said one of the photographers quoted by “The Daily News”. The security personnel also threatened “The Daily News” photographer Grey Chitiga.
Hundreds of uniformed police officers, heavily armed presidential guard officers and plainclothes security personnel accompanied Mugabe when he toured the stands.
