State security agents Thursday made a suspicious search of NewsDay journalists who were returning from lunch at St Lucia Park in Harare in what is being increasingly viewed as intimidation of the private media.
Among the searched journalists were NewsDay Editor Brian Mangwende and the paper’s political editor Kelvin Jakachira along with former Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation news editor Patrice Makova.
The team had been invited for lunch by officials from the Centre for Public Accountability where the non-governmental organisation was holding a workshop for journalists.
A group of six known State agents made an abrupt move and stopped Mangwende and Makova’s vehicles for over 30 minutes, but would not say why.
Without explaining their motive, the State agents searched the vehicles claiming it was a routine exercise.
“We are only doing our job,” said one of the State security agents without explaining.
The security guard who was ordered to stop the vehicles only said it was an order and did not know what they were up to.
Said Mangwende: “Such acts do not augur well for their organisation.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
“I wonder whether their superiors are aware of what their operatives are really up to. What did they achieve by searching my vehicle on my way from lunch for goodness sake?”
What surprised the journalists and other people who were caught in the net was that the agents earlier on appeared relaxed, but sprung into action after seeing the NewsDay crew driving off and ordered the security guards to stop all vehicles leaving the property.
The agents, who also seemed to be attending a workshop at the same venue, ordered everyone to write down their names, registration numbers of their vehicles, their company physical addresses, the motive for their visit to the park and the time they arrived.
The action by the operatives reawakened fears at NewsDay as it came days after a raid that saw Mangwende’s laptop being stolen together with hard drives for senior editorial staff.
Though the motive behind the search was not immediately established, fear abounds that the agents were keeping a close eye on journalists and their movements.
Some of the freelance journalists who had their vehicles searched refused to be named fearing they could be tracked down.
Others said they were not amused by the action of the State agents as it had the potential to scare away prospective event organisers.
St Lucia Park is situated about 11 kilometres from the city centre in Marlborough and offers training and conference facilities.
