Zimbabwe: Journalist detained at border post

Freelance journalist Nunurai Jena was on 21 March 2010 detained by security officials at Beitbridge Border Post on his way home from South Africa.

Jena told MISA-Zimbabwe that the incident happened after the security officials discovered that he had tape-recorded Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) officials as they searched and questioned passengers that were travelling with him on a Harare-bound bus. The security officials questioned him on why he had not declared the tape recorder that was in his possession upon his return from South Africa. They also wanted to know why he had recorded proceedings in a protected area without the authorisation of the ZIMRA officials.

Jena who was detained around 12h00 in the afternoon was only released four hours later after being ordered to delete the contents of the recorder. No charges were preferred against him.  .......................................................................................................

Reagan Malumo

Programme Officer: Media Freedom Monitoring and Research

Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Regional Secretariat

21 Johann Albrecht St

Private Bag 13386

Windhoek

Namibia

Phone: +264 61 232 975

Fax: +264 61 248 016

Mobile: +264 81 311 2626

Official Email: reagan@misa.org

Private Email: reagan32002@yahoo.com

- March 25, 2010 by MISA

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Source: www.misa.org (received via email alert on 25.03.10)