STATE security agents yesterday raided offices of a Kwekwe-based community radio initiative, Radio Kwelaz, accusing its staff of illegally broadcasting in contravention of the Broadcasting Services Act (BSA) and Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (Aippa).
BLESSED MHLANGA
Human rights lawyer Valentine Mutatu, who was present during the raid, said the security agents comprised of eight police officers and three members of the Central Intelligence Organisation, said they were searching for “subversive material”.
“They were here with this vague search warrant and they can’t even tell us the offence which my clients have committed. They have simply said they are calling experts from Harare to see if any offence has been committed,” Mutatu said.
He said the police officers later confiscated compact discs (CD), personal laptops and computers, adding that they were still compiling an inventory list of the seized property.
Journalist Irene Kalulu told NewsDay that her personal laptop had been confiscated during the raid.
Radio Kwelaz has been recording civic awareness CDs and distributing them to its members for the past three years.
In the run-up to last year’s harmonised elections, police arrested staff at Radio Kwelaz on allegations of broadcasting without a licence, but the matter was later withdrawn before plea after the State to produce evidence that they were broadcasting.
