Law officers have condemned the attack on Alpha Media Holdings photo-journalist Watson Ufumeli on Tuesday by prison officials at the Harare Magistrate’s Courts.
Ufumeli was singled out from several other photographers and received a bashing from a prison officer while taking pictures outside the courts.
The prison officer who assaulted him is yet to be identified, but his pictures in the act are available. A Harare lawyer Tendai Hangazha did not mince his words on Thursday when asked to comment on the issue.
“What this really shows is total disregard of the law in this country.
“You cannot imagine a situation where a prison officer publicly assaults a journalist doing his job — at the magistrate’s courts for that matter!” Hangazha said.
“If they can afford do that to journalists — in broad daylight — how about incarcerated inmates?”
Another Harare lawyer, Clemence Takaendesa, said the assault was an indication of how the uniformed forces were clamping down on any organisation or person whom they deem to be against their interests.
Joseph Terera of Mwonzora & Associates said: “The conduct of the prison officers is deplorable to say the least.”
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Ufumeli had gone to the courts to cover appearances by CAPS Holdings major shareholder, Fredrick Charles Mtandah, and suspected Gweru female rapists.
