(MISA/IFEX) – On 5 May 2001, freelance journalist Obert Simwanza was beaten by a police officer and suspected ruling party, Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD), supporters, following the violent disruption of a planned rally in Lusaka called by an MMD faction opposed to President Chiluba’s leadership of the party. Simwanza said he was assaulted by […]
(MISA/IFEX) – On 5 May 2001, freelance journalist Obert Simwanza was beaten by a police officer and suspected ruling party, Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD), supporters, following the violent disruption of a planned rally in Lusaka called by an MMD faction opposed to President Chiluba’s leadership of the party.
Simwanza said he was assaulted by the police officer at Kulima Tower Police Post in the city centre, where he was taken by the suspected pro-Chiluba MMD members. Earlier these members had beaten Simwanza suspecting his sympathy towards the anti-Chiluba faction, whose planned rally had been violently disrupted by police using tear gas and live ammunition.
Simwanza said the group of about eight had approached him and two other journalists, charging that, “You are the ones we are looking for. We have been sent. You are the ones who don’t want Chiluba to rule and you are causing confusion in town”. Simwanza and his colleagues were apparently recognised as journalists because one of them was wearing a Zambia Independent Media Association (ZIMA) tee shirt printed for World Press Freedom Day.
The reporter also said that within a few moments of being surrounded by the gang, he received a blow to the face, whereupon the assailants immediately joined in beating him, causing his nose and left ear to bleed. Simwanza’s shirt was ripped from his body as he was dragged to the police post about 300 metres away from where the attack occurred. His colleagues managed to sneak away as he was being beaten.
When Simwanza got to Kulima Tower Police Post, a policewoman ordered him to sit on the floor and then violently attacked him with a whip, leaving him with bruises on the back of his neck, head and left arm. The journalist was detained for about twenty minutes but released without being charged when his two colleagues returned with other journalists and pleaded for his release.
Simwanza was treated for “a swollen head and general body pains” according to a medical report obtained from a government clinic. The incident was reported to Lusaka Central Police Station and is under investigation.
Background Information
The abortive rally was called by a faction of the ruling MMD whose members,including the republican vice-president, several cabinet ministers, deputy ministers and senior party members, were expelled from the ruling party for opposing the amendment of the MMD constitution that allows Chiluba to re-contest the party presidency. The amendment was passed at a recent party convention which the anti-Chiluba faction was prevented from attending due to threats of violence and harassment. The division over this issue has split the party into the so-called “pro-Third Term” and “anti-Third Term” factions.
