Four journalists arrested in Zimbabwe, lawyer says

Jul 15, 2011, 17:53 GMT

Harare - Zimbabwean police on Friday arrested four journalists who were covering the eviction of a police officer, who was reportedly sacked for having the prime minister's party's song as his mobile phone ring tone, their lawyer said.

Lizwe Jamela, from the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights group, said journalists Nqobani Ndlovu, Pindai Dube, Oscar Nkala and Pamenus Tuso had sent him text messages that they were being detained at Ntabazinduna police station near Bulawayo, the country's second-largest city.

Jamela said the four freelance journalists had gone to the police station to cover the eviction of a policeman who was accused of supporting Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).

Police sources in Bulawayo said Tedious Chisango was dismissed from the police force for having an MDC song as the ring tone on his mobile phone.

Friday's arrests come weeks after that of editor Nevanje Madanhire, reporter Patience Nyangove and Loud Ramakgapola in connection with a story that The Sunday Standard published covering the detention of Jameson Timba, a minister in Tsvangirai's office.

The Zimbabwe Union of Journalists condemned the arrests, saying it confirmed that the country was a 'rogue state like Burma (Myanmar) and Iran.'

Foster Dongozi, secretary general of the union, said in a statement, 'This is really frightening exercise the police has started. The union's fears are that the arrests will escalate as elections are approaching.'