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| Ass Com Nyazema |
…I will bring my certificates, I want you to give me a new job
TellZim Reporter
MASVINGO
– In what could be considered to be an act of overzealousness, Zimbabwe
Republic Police (ZRP) Officer Commanding Masvingo Province, Ass Com Taoneyi
Nyezama yesterday (April 11) threatened and intimidated TellZim directors
Passmore Kuzipa and Golden Maunganidze over a published story.
– In what could be considered to be an act of overzealousness, Zimbabwe
Republic Police (ZRP) Officer Commanding Masvingo Province, Ass Com Taoneyi
Nyezama yesterday (April 11) threatened and intimidated TellZim directors
Passmore Kuzipa and Golden Maunganidze over a published story.
The
senior police officer then kicked the two out of his office, and they approached
Media Institute of Southern Africa (Misa) Zimbabwe lawyer Derrick Charamba of
Hwacha and Ndlovu.
senior police officer then kicked the two out of his office, and they approached
Media Institute of Southern Africa (Misa) Zimbabwe lawyer Derrick Charamba of
Hwacha and Ndlovu.
Nyazema,
however, later refused to speak to the duo and their lawyer, as he was angry
for being named in a Muckraker column called Mapombi Adonha.
however, later refused to speak to the duo and their lawyer, as he was angry
for being named in a Muckraker column called Mapombi Adonha.
The
column gave a critical and satirical overview of provincial law enforcement
authorities’ policing of the national lockdown.
column gave a critical and satirical overview of provincial law enforcement
authorities’ policing of the national lockdown.
“Am
I dull? Who wrote that column? I will bring my certificates to TellZim so that
you can give me a job. Give me your full names and get out of my offices,”
fumed Nyazema.
I dull? Who wrote that column? I will bring my certificates to TellZim so that
you can give me a job. Give me your full names and get out of my offices,”
fumed Nyazema.
Kuzipa
said the intimidation was so serious that they had to immediately engage a
lawyer.
said the intimidation was so serious that they had to immediately engage a
lawyer.
“We
did not take the intimidation lightly. Nyazema occupies the highest police office
in the province. He is, therefore, capable of doing anything. However, refusing to talk to our lawyer even
scared us more, and we are living in fear because we do not know his next move.
did not take the intimidation lightly. Nyazema occupies the highest police office
in the province. He is, therefore, capable of doing anything. However, refusing to talk to our lawyer even
scared us more, and we are living in fear because we do not know his next move.
“His
insinuations that he wants us to give him a job were not sincere and we take
such ominous threats to our security seriously,” said Kuzipa.
insinuations that he wants us to give him a job were not sincere and we take
such ominous threats to our security seriously,” said Kuzipa.
Maunganidze
later spoke to national police spokesperson, Snr Ass Com Paul Nyathi who
advised that TellZim should approach Commissioner General Godwin Matanga with
the matter since Nyazema had refused to meet their lawyer.
later spoke to national police spokesperson, Snr Ass Com Paul Nyathi who
advised that TellZim should approach Commissioner General Godwin Matanga with
the matter since Nyazema had refused to meet their lawyer.
“We
strongly felt we were being threatened. We had to engage police spokesperson
Ass Com Nyathi after the provincial police boss refused to talk to our
lawyer.
strongly felt we were being threatened. We had to engage police spokesperson
Ass Com Nyathi after the provincial police boss refused to talk to our
lawyer.
“Journalism
is not a crime. There are so many ways of seeking redress when one is not happy
with a story. One can approach the Voluntary Media Council of Zimbabwe (VMCZ)
or the Zimbabwe Media Commission (ZMC), but harassment and intimidation is
unacceptable,” said Maunganidze.
is not a crime. There are so many ways of seeking redress when one is not happy
with a story. One can approach the Voluntary Media Council of Zimbabwe (VMCZ)
or the Zimbabwe Media Commission (ZMC), but harassment and intimidation is
unacceptable,” said Maunganidze.
Misa
Zimbabwe has since issued a statement condemning Nyazema’s actions saying the
media should be allowed to do its work without threats and intimidations.
Zimbabwe has since issued a statement condemning Nyazema’s actions saying the
media should be allowed to do its work without threats and intimidations.
“Misa Zimbabwe condemns the
intimidation of journalists in the course of their professional duties.
Aggrieved parties are urged to file their complaints with the Voluntary Media Council
of Zimbabwe instead of taking the law into their own hands. The
Zimbabwe Media Commission is also available as a constitutional body if there
are sections of the society that feel aggrieved.
intimidation of journalists in the course of their professional duties.
Aggrieved parties are urged to file their complaints with the Voluntary Media Council
of Zimbabwe instead of taking the law into their own hands. The
Zimbabwe Media Commission is also available as a constitutional body if there
are sections of the society that feel aggrieved.
“It is
of high concern in this case that the police refused to meet with an officer of
the court who was representing the two journalists. We can only hope that the
journalists or their media house are not going to be harassed given the
behaviour exhibited by the Masvingo Police Assistant Commissioner,” reads the
statement.
of high concern in this case that the police refused to meet with an officer of
the court who was representing the two journalists. We can only hope that the
journalists or their media house are not going to be harassed given the
behaviour exhibited by the Masvingo Police Assistant Commissioner,” reads the
statement.
Charamba
also said he will notify the lawyers’ association about what he regarded as
deplorable behaviour exhibited by the police boss.
also said he will notify the lawyers’ association about what he regarded as
deplorable behaviour exhibited by the police boss.
“We
are all officers of the law so I did not expect that from somebody of Nyazema’s
social and professional standing. I wanted to engage him because my clients
felt threatened by his statements but he refused. I am raising the issue with
the lawyers’ association,” said Charamba.
are all officers of the law so I did not expect that from somebody of Nyazema’s
social and professional standing. I wanted to engage him because my clients
felt threatened by his statements but he refused. I am raising the issue with
the lawyers’ association,” said Charamba.
