(MISA/IFEX) – On Monday 6 May 2002, Urgunia Mauluka, a photojournalist for “The Daily News”, was assaulted at the High Court in the capital, Harare, as she attempted to photograph a suspect in a high profile corruption case. Mauluka was assaulted by James Makaya, who seized her camera and film. In a report made to […]
(MISA/IFEX) – On Monday 6 May 2002, Urgunia Mauluka, a photojournalist for “The Daily News”, was assaulted at the High Court in the capital, Harare, as she attempted to photograph a suspect in a high profile corruption case.
Mauluka was assaulted by James Makaya, who seized her camera and film. In a report made to the High Court police post, Mauluka said that she was about to take a picture of Makaya, who came out of the courtroom during a break in the proceedings. The photojournalist stated that Makaya grabbed her camera and when Mauluka held on to it she was kicked. When a feigned punch was thrown, Mauluka let go of the camera. The photojournalist sustained bruises on her elbow as a result of the kick and the scuffle.
Makaya relinquished the camera after the intervention of Assistant Inspector Mlipe, the officer in charge at the High Court police post. However, Makaya refused to hand over the film, which he had removed from the camera.
After kicking Mauluka, Makaya went to look for Lloyd Mudiwa, “The Daily News” reporter who was covering the story. Pointing at the reporter, Makaya is reported to have said that he wanted “to deal with the people responsible for writing about him.” “Don’t start troubling me. I have been quiet all along but you are now beginning to get on my nerves,” said Makaya.
Makaya is appearing in the High Court on allegations of having prejudiced the state-owned Zimbabwe National Oil Company of over Z$1 billion (approx. US$18,292,000). He was the company operations manager at the time the alleged offence is said to have been committed. The Zimbabwe government has blamed among others, the corruption at the company for the fuel
problems that the country is facing.
