Arrest attackers of scribes, police ordered

Mon, 27 Feb 2017 08:20:26 +0000

By Chikumbi Katebe

GOVERNMENT regrets the hooliganism and barbarism exhibited towards media personnel and has directed police to immediately move in and arrest perpetrators of the violence against Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) and Muvi Television news crews attacked in Lusaka’s Chawama compound over the weekend.

Information Minister Kampamba Mulenga yesterday said police must ensure all perpetrators of the attack must be brought to book over the assault of ZNBC camera persons Fille Nyirenda and Muvi Television’s Zephenia Zulu and their reporters during a Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority (ZMRA) and Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) operation in Chawama.

“Four Journalists from the ZNBC and Muvi Television were yesterday (Saturday) beaten up and had their cameras damaged by some residents in Chawama as they filmed the operation.

“We strongly condemn the violence that is reported to have occurred during a joint operation by the Zambia Police, ZAMRA and DEC to clamp down on illegal drug stores in the area,” she said.

She said Government regrets the attack on other public officers from DEC, ZAMRA and the police who were also reported to have been beaten during the operation.

She affirmed continued Government support for media rights and appealed to the public to help protect and defend journalists who “need to be able to do their work without fear or intimidation”.

Lusaka Police Commissioner Nelson Phiri has disclosed that three suspects have been picked up in relation to the violence against the journalists.

Mr Phiri said police were still on the ground making leads to other suspects and that they would not leave any stone unturned in their quest.

He explained that the officers manning the operation were outnumbered by their assailants during the attack, but that police would not rest until all perpetrators were arrested.