Seven held during Zimbabwe election

SEVEN JOURNALISTS were arrested in Zimbabwe during voting in the second round of the Presidential election on June 27.

Freelance reporter Frank Chikowore and camera operator Edgar Mwandiambira were held while covering President Robert Mugabe’s arrival at a polling station to vote.

Police also arrested British freelance photographer Richard Judson and Zimbabwean freelance journalists Regis Marisamhuka and Agrison Manyenge at other locations in Harare. They were released after two days.

Tumaole Mohlaoli and Elelewani Ramphumedzi, reporter and cameraman for the privately-owned South African television e.tv, were arrested the same day in the border town of Beitbridge. They were freed after negotiations with South African police, after spending one night in custody.

The Journalist is published by the National Union of Journalists