Soldiers violated journalist’s rights

Thu, 25 Jan 2018 16:08:11 +0000

By KALOBWE BWALYA

 LAST week, the media fraternity was shocked to learn of the abduction and torture of Daily Nation sports reporter, Michael Miyoba.

Miyoba was attacked for merely being found on the street as he went to board a bus home.

However, it is the manner of torture that he was subjected to that has raised consternation in the nation.

According to Miyoba, a female ZAF officer pulled his genitals not once or twice but four times as punishment.

It is shocking that a woman would choose to torture a man in such a way for no particular reason. Are we in a war situation for Miyoba to be subjected to such torture?

Is it any wonder that some women are labelled as cruel?

The media fraternity has condemned the attacks on Miyoba. Opposition parties have also joined in the condemnation of the attack.

The Rainbow Party has joined the list of stakeholders demanding the dismissal of Zambia Air Force (ZAF) officers who abducted and tortured Daily Nation sports reporter, Miyoba.

In an interview yesterday, Provincial party chairman, Reverend Bernard Chiwele condemned the four ZAF officers who abducted and tortured Daily Nation reporter, Miyoba recently.

“As Rainbow Party in Luapula we strongly condemned the barbaric behaviour of the officers in question. We further urged the police to investigate the matter thoroughly and prosecute those found wanting.”

Rev Chiwele also wondered why the ZAF Commander had remained mute over the matter.

“We don’t want to be forced to reach the conclusion that Lieutenant General Eric Chimese is shielding the culprits.

It’s not only the name of Lt. Gen. Chimese which is at stake but also the entire ZAF command. He should not allow a few disgruntled elements to dent the reputation that innocent ZAF officers have work so hard to build,” said Rev Chiwele.

The Zambia Union of Journalists (ZUJ) and Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) have both condemned the attack and called for the protection of journalists.

ZUJ vice president, Alex Njovu, wondered what the female officer was looking for by pulling Miyoba’s genitals.

Miyoba was on Monday, January 15, 2018  captured and tortured by Zambia Air Force (ZAF) officers assigned to chase away street vendors from the central business district in Lusaka.

Miyoba Michael, a sports reporter at Daily Nation was abused and tortured by the ZAF officers despite having identified himself as a journalist.

One female officer reportedly pulled Miyoba’s genitals before slapping him on the face after he had identified himself as a journalist.

The officers believed that the reporter had taken pictures of them while they were chasing away the vendors from the streets.

“After dropping off from a bus outside Kulima Tower bus station, I found the Army and some street vendors engaged in a fracas. Army officers from Zambia Air Force were chasing away the street vendors who returned to sale their merchandise after workings hours,

“As I was passing to go and catch a bus, one officer stopped me and asked me where I was going. I removed my press ID and identified myself as a journalist, which proved to be a grave mistake as other officers surrounded me and requested that I give them my phone thinking that I had taken pictures of them.

“As I was explaining myself, one officer asked me to do some sit ups which I refused to do. A fat female officer with a big tummy and very light in completion started pulling my manhood saying that journalists are the people who write bad things about them. She pulled my manhood on three occasions before slapping me for refusing to do some roll up on a tarred road,” Miyoba narrated.

“They put me in their van where they poured cold water on me while screaming “Aljazeera Aljazeera”.

“They took me to the main Post Office where the captured vendors were being taken. There I explained myself and told the officer in charge that I was a journalist from Daily Nation and that I did not do anything wrong. The officer requested for my press ID which I produced,”

“After checking it out the officer said that the press ID had expired but gave me permission to go home. I told him that one of his officers had  my phone, then he directed me to sit among the captured vendors as I waited for my phone. As I sat there waiting for my phone, another officer commanded me to drink the water from plastics which vendors sale in the streets. I refused but the officer got angry and forced me to drink and finish the water. Then the female officer who had pulled my genitals earlier came and started pouring cold water on me while stepping on my feet while the other officer hit me with his boot in the head forcing me to lie down,

“The officer who was having my phone came to my rescue and asked me to unlock my phone to see if I had taken any pictures. The officers found nothing but still went on to delete all the content in my phone and gave it back without a memory card. I got my phone walked back to Kulima Tower bus station with my wet clothes,” he explained.

Why should the state allow this to happen? Journalists are the eyes of the people and government.