A JOURNALIST from the privately-owned weekly Standard newspaper was arrested on Wednesday over a story claiming the Zimbabwe Republic Police was flouting recruitment procedures by hiring war veterans.
The story by Nqobani Ndlovu, published on November 14, claimed the recruits would be “directing operations during elections next year.”
Ndlovu’s lawyer Josphat Tshuma said he was arrested at the newspaper’s Bulawayo office and held for questioning at the Central Police Station.
He added: “Police say he violated Section 96 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act by defaming Police Commissioner Augustine Chihuri and the entire police force.
“We expected him to be taken to court today (Wednesday) but officers who arrested him said they had orders from above that he be detained overnight while they carry out some more investigations.”
The Standard report claimed that the Zimbabwe Republic Police had shelved this year’s promotional exams “used as the basis for promoting junior officers to positions of sergeant up to inspector” in order to accommodate the war veterans and retired officers who were being recalled.
Prior to his arrest, Ndlovu told New Zimbabwe.com he had evidence supporting his story.
Officers from the Law and Order Section first questioned the Standard’s Bulawayo bureau chief, Dumisani Sibanda, on Tuesday over the story and released him.
Late Wednesday, police were reported to be looking for the weekly’s editor Nevanji Madanhire.
The Media Institute of Southern Africa (Misa-Zimbabwe) condemned Ndlovu’s arrest, calling for his immediate release.
“This is clear testimony that the harassment of journalists is continuing in Zimbabwe. We anticipate the situation to worsen as we heard towards the next elections,” said Misa-Zimbabwe director, Nhlanhla Ngwenya.