Home 9 Media violations 9 Police arrest newspaper vendors in Masvingo

Police arrest newspaper vendors in Masvingo

Newspaper vendors arrested in Masvingo, coronavirus lockdown, Zimbabwe
31 Mar, 2020
Police in Masvingo today dispersed several newspaper vendors and also arrested four, being 3 females and 1 male this afternoon for violating SI 83 of 2020 which seeks to enforce the Presidential directive for a national lockdown.

Police in Masvingo today dispersed several newspaper vendors and also arrested four, being 3 females and 1 male at around 12:00hrs for violating the Presidential directive for a national lockdown enforced by SI 83 of 2020.

Through our advocacy chairperson for Masvingo, Passmore Kuzipa, we have been advised that the arrested persons are currently detained at Masvingo Central Police Station. The four were arrested at Belmont Press, the main selling point for newspapers in Masvingo, where all the provincial and national newspapers are sold.

Section 4(1)(a)(ii) of the Statutory Instrument highlights that every person is confined to their home except if the individual is employed in an essential service, to go to and from his or her place of employment and go about the business of that essential service. It should be noted that in terms of Section 2 of the same provisions, essential services include communication and telecommunication services.

As such newspapers, radio, television, internet are defined as communication services as they facilitate citizens’ access to information. Street vendors together with shops and agents are part of the main players in information dissemination in general and newspaper distribution in particular. The disruption of this service will, therefore, affect the newspaper companies who will have no reason to print if the distributors are not allowed to continue with their work. These vendors should thus be allowed to continue with the provision of this essential service as access to information by the citizens is a constitutionally entrenched right through section 61 of the Constitution.

MISA Zimbabwe has been advised that these vendors were selling at their designated points as approved by the local authorities thus in no way committing an offence. Being cognizant of the seriousness of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, MISA Zimbabwe encourages the industry players to exercise caution and social distancing while doing their business.

MISA Zimbabwe, therefore, reiterates its appeal to the government through its uniformed forces to cooperate with players in the media and communication industry particularly in the protection and promotion of rights.

MISA Zimbabwe’s Media Lawyers Network member, Martin Mureri has been dispatched to the police station accompanied by the provincial chairperson, Passmore Kuzipa.

//END

 

SOS journalists hotline

If you are injured, detained or arrested ín the line of duty, call our 24/7 SOS journalist hotline on 0784 437 338 to access legal and/or medical assistance. 

Don’t forget to have the number saved in your phone for emergencies!

Find out more about the hotline here.

About MISA

The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) was founded in 1992. Its work focuses on promoting, and advocating for, the unhindered enjoyment of freedom of expression, access to information and a free, independent, diverse and pluralistic media.

Share this

Related news

FOX Fellowships ( Call for Applications)

FOX Fellowships ( Call for Applications)

DW Akademie in collaboration with the Spaces of Solidarity coalition of Media Freedom Advocates offer five FOX Fellowships of 1,000 EUR (~ 1,100 USD) for activists, media professionals, media freedom and freedom of expression advocates to foster free expression in the...

Welcome address by the Chairperson of MISA Zambia, Lorraine Mwanza

Welcome address by the Chairperson of MISA Zambia, Lorraine Mwanza

Ladies and gentlemen, it is my great pleasure to welcome you to this year’s Spaces of Solidarity meeting, where we again gather to discuss issues that are relevant to us. I am pleased to see both old faces, which speak to continuity, and new faces, indicating that our...