Journalist charged with disorderly conduct
7 Jul, 2022
What happened
Freelance journalist Anyway Yotamu was reportedly assaulted and arrested by the police in Harare’s central business district on 7 July 2022 while covering an altercation between city parking attendants and touts.
Yotamu was subsequently charged with disorderly conduct and undermining the authority of the police.
It is reported that he had earlier attended a press conference by MDC-T leader Douglas Mwonzora, when he witnessed an altercation between city parking attendants and touts.
Yotamu reportedly took pictures of the altercation resulting in the police manhandling and assaulting him with a baton before bundling him into a police vehicle.
MISA Zimbabwe deployed lawyers Tafadzwa Mugabe and Shamiso Dhlakama to attend to the matter.
He was released into the custody of lawyer Shamiso Dhlakama and is expected to report to the police on Friday, 8 July 2022. Dhlakama said Yotamu is expected to appear in court on Saturday, 9 July 2022.
Meanwhile, Yotamu sustained injuries from the assault and has since been attended to by a medical doctor.
MISA's position
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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.
Latest media violations
Those affected:
Freelance journalist Anyway Yotamu
Freelance journalist Anyway Yotamu
Number affected:
1
1
Perpetrators:
Police officers
Police officers
Types of actors:
State
State
Location:
Harare CBD
Harare CBD