Zimbabwe journalist murdered

HARARE – Zimbabwe police have confirmed they have opened a murder investigation into the death of an independent journalist, and lawyers acting for another reporter arrested under sweeping media laws said he was assaulted and tortured in custody.

Police spokesman Wayne Bvudzijena said the body of Edward Chikombo, a former cameraman at the government-run Zimbabwe television, the sole TV station, was found on March 31, dumped in the Darwindale district, about 30 kilometres northwest of his home in the Harare township of Glen View. He had been missing since March 29.There were indications Chikombo was assaulted and died from injuries, state radio quoted Bvudzijena as saying.No further details were given.No confirmation was available on reports Chikomba, who left the state broadcaster in 2002, had sold footage of last month’s political unrest to foreign media organisations, including images of the injuries of assaulted opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai and other pro-democracy activists.If Chikombo’s death proves to have been politically motivated, it would be the first killing of a journalist in years of suppression of the independent media.Since the draconian Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act was enforced in 2003, scores of independent journalists have been arrested or assaulted by ruling party militants.These excesses also include Zimbabwean reporters working for the foreign media.Four independent newspapers were shut down, one of them the only independent mass circulation daily.The Daily News presses were also destroyed in a bombing the day after the government described it as a threat to national security.Foreign reporters are routinely barred entry to the country.A second independent journalist, Gift Phiri, freed on bail on Thursday after nearly a week in custody, suffered a broken finger and other injuries in police assaults and “torture”, said Rangu Nyamurundu, his lawyer.Phiri was hospitalised for further medical examinations after his release.He was charged under the media laws for allegedly writing “falsehoods” and working as a journalist without a government license for the British-based newspaper The Zimbabwean and an online news service run by Zimbabwean exiles.The alleged offences carry a penalty of a fine or up to two years in jail.Phiri is scheduled to go to trial April 25.The state-owned Herald, a government mouthpiece, said on Friday that Phiri was accused of writing an article for The Zimbabwean saying that army generals had demanded that long-time ruler President Robert Mugabe step down to make way for a military-led government.He had also written about an alleged ruling party “terror squad” linked to the torture of labour leaders and opposition activists.In 1999, two journalists of the independent Sunday Standard were held at a Harare army base and beaten and tortured by military police for a week without being formally arrested or charged by civilian police.Authorities ignored at least two High Court rulings ordering their release or handover to the civil police.Government pressure on independent journalists has intensified sharply since police violently broke up an opposition-led prayer meeting in Harare on March 11.Mugabe acknowledged Tsvangirai and fellow activists were “bashed” by police – claiming Tsvangirai “asked for it”.Two local journalists well known by police, arrested along with the activists, were also severely beaten and needed hospital treatment in what was seen as a warning to other independent reporters.* Meanwhile, an An Ethiopian judge freed 25 journalists on Monday charged in a treason trial involving more than 100 opposition figures that has drawn international criticism as being politically motivated.”The prosecution has not proved the charges levelled against the 25 journalists,” presiding Judge Adil Ahmed told the court, before ordering prison authorities to free them immediately.The journalists could not immediately be reached for comment.Lead prosecutor Shimeles Kemal told Reuters he had some reservations about the ruling and “may consider an appeal on certain issues.”The judge also ordered the leaders of the main opposition party, the Coalition for Unity and Democracy, to give their defence against the prosecution’s case against them.In a case that has outraged human rights groups, opposition leaders, journalists and civil society activists were charged in December 2005 with treason, inciting violence and attempting to commit genocide.The charges followed two separate outbreaks of violence in which at least 80 people were killed in clashes between protesters and security forces over 2005 general election results, which the opposition says were rigged.The crackdown tarnished Prime Minister Meles Zenawi’s democratic credentials and prompted donors, including Britain and the European Union, to halt direct budgetary aid to sub-Saharan Africa’s second most populous nation.Of 131 people first charged, 45 have now been acquitted and 36 are being tried in absentia.Under Ethiopian law, convicted defendants could face the death penalty if genocide is proven.Meles has claimed that the opposition incited the violence after the elections to overthrow his government.Nampa-AP-ReutersHe had been missing since March 29.There were indications Chikombo was assaulted and died from injuries, state radio quoted Bvudzijena as saying.No further details were given.No confirmation was available on reports Chikomba, who left the state broadcaster in 2002, had sold footage of last month’s political unrest to foreign media organisations, including images of the injuries of assaulted opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai and other pro-democracy activists.If Chikombo’s death proves to have been politically motivated, it would be the first killing of a journalist in years of suppression of the independent media.Since the draconian Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act was enforced in 2003, scores of independent journalists have been arrested or assaulted by ruling party militants. These excesses also include Zimbabwean reporters working for the foreign media.Four independent newspapers were shut down, one of them the only independent mass circulation daily.The Daily News presses were also destroyed in a bombing the day after the government described it as a threat to national security.Foreign reporters are routinely barred entry to the country.A second independent journalist, Gift Phiri, freed on bail on Thursday after nearly a week in custody, suffered a broken finger and other injuries in police assaults and “torture”, said Rangu Nyamurundu, his lawyer.Phiri was hospitalised for further medical examinations after his release.He was charged under the media laws for allegedly writing “falsehoods” and working as a journalist without a government license for the British-based newspaper The Zimbabwean and an online news service run by Zimbabwean exiles.The alleged offences carry a penalty of a fine or up to two years in jail.Phiri is scheduled to go to trial April 25.The state-owned Herald, a government mouthpiece, said on Friday that Phiri was accused of writing an article for The Zimbabwean saying that army generals had demanded that long-time ruler President Robert Mugabe step down to make way for a military-led government.He had also written about an alleged ruling party “terror squad” linked to the torture of labour leaders and opposition activists.In 1999, two journalists of the independent Sunday Standard were held at a Harare army base and beaten and tortured by military police for a week without being formally arrested or charged by civilian police.Authorities ignored at least two High Court rulings ordering their release or handover to the civil police.Government pressure on independent journalists has intensified sharply since police violently broke up an opposition-led prayer meeting in Harare on March 11.Mugabe acknowledged Tsvangirai and fellow activists were “bashed” by police – claiming Tsvangirai “asked for it”.Two local journalists well known by police, arrested along with the activists, were also severely beaten and needed hospital treatment in what was seen as a warning to other independent reporters.* Meanwhile, an An Ethiopian judge freed 25 journalists on Monday charged in a treason trial involving more than 100 opposition figures that has drawn international criticism as being politically motivated.”The prosecution has not proved the charges levelled against the 25 journalists,” presiding Judge Adil Ahmed told the court, before ordering prison authorities to free them immediately.The journalists could not immediately be reached for comment.Lead prosecutor Shimeles Kemal told Reuters he had some reservations about the ruling and “may consider an appeal on certain issues.”The judge also ordered the leaders of the main opposition party, the Coalition for Unity and Democracy, to give their defence against the prosecution’s case against them.In a case that has outraged human rights groups, opposition leaders, journalists and civil society activists were charged in December 2005 with treason, inciting violence and attempting to commit genocide.The charges followed two separate outbreaks of violence in which at least 80 people were killed in clashes between protesters and security forces over 2005 general election results, which the opposition says were rigged.The crackdown tarnished Prime Minister Meles Zenawi’s democratic credentials and prompted donors, including Britain and the European Union, to halt direct budgetary aid to sub-Saharan Africa’s second most populous nation.Of 131 people first charged, 45 have now been acquitted and 36 are being tried in absentia.Under Ethiopian law, convicted defendants could face the death penalty if genocide is proven.Meles has claimed that the opposition incited the violence after the elections to overthrow his government.Nampa-AP-Reuters