Reporters sans Frontières (Paris)
3 December 2008
press release
Reporters Without Borders voiced deep disquiet after journalist and human rights activist Jestina Mukoko was abducted at dawn today from her home near the capital Harare.
The journalist, a former broadcaster at the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) then privately-owned Voice of The People (VOP), was snatched from her home in Norton, 40 kilometres from the capital, by 15 men in plain clothes, Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) said.
"One of the unmarked vehicles which was used in the kidnapping was a grey Mazda 323 Familia" the ZLHR added. The reason for the kidnapping is still unknown and police have refused to comment.
"Everything must be done to secure the swift release of Jestina Mukoko and to ensure her safety", the worldwide press freedom said. "If it is an arrest and the state security apparatus is involved, it should immediately make clear what the journalist is charged with and publicly announce where she is being held".
"If it is on the other hand a kidnapping, the authorities should rapidly do everything possible to find those responsible for this cowardly act and bring them to justice," it added.
Jestina Mukoko heads the human rights body, the Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP), that has reported regularly on political violence in 2008 as ZANU-PF, the party of President Robert Mugabe, was beaten in the first round of elections in March by the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) of opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai and around 200 opposition supporters were killed. Refusing to accept defeat, the government in September signed a power-sharing agreement with the opposition but the two sides have so far failed to agree on the allocation of key ministries.
Freelance cameraman, Edward Chikomba, was found dead on 31 March 2007 after being abducted in similar circumstances. Despite an absence of proof, suspicion has been directed at intelligence service agents.
Reporters Without Borders defends imprisoned journalists and press freedom throughout the world. It has nine national sections (Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland). It has representatives in Bangkok, London, New York, Tokyo and Washington. And it has more than 120 correspondents worldwide.
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