By Tendai Chisir
An unknown number of journalists were reportedly trapped inside the City Sports Centre in Harare when chaos ensued at the venue during public hearings on the Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3.
According to reports from HStvNews and NewsDay, alleged members of Zanu PF insisted that the reporters could only leave the venue after erasing all news footage.
MISA’s position
MISA Zimbabwe is deeply concerned about the safety and security of journalists following reports of the challenges journalists face while covering the public hearings.
The challenges reported to us so far include harassment and intimidation of journalists covering the public hearings, and in some cases, difficulties in accessing certain venues.
We urge all responsible authorities, including the police, to ensure the safety of journalists performing their lawful professional duties in accordance with Section 61 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to freedom of expression and the media.
Journalists play a vital role in exercising and enjoying the right to access information and uphold public accountability as outlined in Section 62 of the Constitution, and they should therefore be permitted to carry out their work without obstruction.
News Sport Online 