AMERICAN JOURNALISTS ACCOSTED BY ANGRY RULING

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HARARE 002783 SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/S, AF/PD, DS/OP/AF PRETORIA AND JOHANNESBURG FOR EMBOFF E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC PREL KPAO ZI SUBJECT: AMERICAN JOURNALISTS ACCOSTED BY ANGRY RULING PARTY SUPPORTERS ¶1. Summary: On December 7 two journalists, including an Amcit and a South African citizen, were surrounded, detained and lightly roughed up by a group of about 30 ZANU-PF supporters. The incident occurred at a shopping center in Harare's upper-middle class Newlands neighborhood as the journalists were interviewing and photographing people waiting in line for bread at a retail bakery. At Emboff's urging, members of the Zimbabwean Republic Police (ZRP) took the journalists to a nearby police station. In a 30- minute session at the police station, the officer in charge refused demands by the ruling party supporters to arrest the journalists and seize their cameras. The officer in charge took names and contact details of the journalists and Emboff, stated that the ZRP would investigate the incident, and released the journalists. This incident illustrates growing tensions in Zimbabwe, the potential for confrontations provoked by ruling party supporters even in urban areas, and the relatively low "flashpoint" for such incidents in Zimbabwe today. End Summary. ¶2. Saturday morning, December 7, an Amcit journalist and a South African photojournalist (they have asked not to be named) were interviewing and taking photographs of Zimbabweans waiting in line to buy bread at a retail bakery in the Newlands shopping center in an upper middle class Harare suburb. Neither the people in the bread line nor a passing police officer expressed any objection to the journalists' presence. The journalists were accredited by the Government of Zimbabwe (having paid the US$100 application and US$500 registration fees) and were carrying the GoZ-issued media accreditation documents that give them permission to be in Zimbabwe until January 5, 2003. ¶3. Within a few minutes of their arrival at the bread line, a hostile, roughly 30-year old man, who apparently believed he had the right to make a "citizen's arrest," accosted the two journalists. He attempted to relieve the photographer of his cameras, claiming that the journalists were violating citizens' right to privacy, were violating Zimbabwean sovereignty, and were intending to damage Zimbabwe by publishing photographs and articles that would "make it appear that there are problems here." Within a few minutes a crowd of about 30 hostile young men surrounded the two journalists. Angrily shouted comments from the crowd indicated its adherence to government opinions about the western media's role in helping to create Zimbabwe's current difficulties. The journalists were pushed and shoved, some in the crowd attempted to steal the photographer's cameras, and the photographer was slapped on the head and shoulders two or three times. There were no injuries. ¶4. The group of young men wanted to take the reporters into an empty field near the shopping center, saying that they were going to a police station. The reporters held their ground, and were able to call Emboff and Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP). Emboff informed the RSO of the incident in progress and then drove to the shopping center, about 5 minutes from his residence. Emboff arrived at the shopping center shortly after the ZRP and found the two journalists, now joined by another Amcit journalist (also properly accredited),standing next to a police vehicle and surrounded by approximately 30 agitated young men. The incident had become something of a spectacle and was attracting a larger crowd. Emboff spoke with the police officer in charge of the vehicle and urged that he defuse the situation by taking the journalists to the nearest police station. The ZRP officer agreed and Emboff said he would follow in his own car. Two of the journalists and three of the "complainants" traveled to the police station in the ZRP vehicle. Emboff and the third journalist followed. ¶5. The group went to the nearby Tomlinson Depot police station and was shown into the office of Superintendent J. Chani, Officer in Command of the Diplomatic Protection Unit. Superintendent Chani listened to both sides of the story, including a great deal of bluster and bad information from the "complainants," and stated he could not see that any crime had been committed. To mollify the "complainants," he took the names and contact details of the 3 journalists and the Emboff, said that he would investigate the incident and that if there were any charges to be filed, he would be able to contact the journalists through the Emboff. The journalists and Emboff spent about 30 minutes at the police station, most of that time dedicated to the xenophobic diatribes of the "complainants." These people either truly believed, or were paid to believe, Government of Zimbabwe propaganda about a western conspiracy to damage Zimbabwe. Even though the "complainants" remained angry and wanted the ZRP to seize the cameras as "evidence," Superintendent Chani gave Emboff permission to depart with the journalists. ¶6. Comment: Although this incident pales in comparison to the sort of mob rule experienced by thousands of Zimbabweans since February 2000, it is noteworthy that this is the first time that international journalists have seriously been threatened by ruling party supporters in Harare. Up until this incident, international journalists were aware of the dangers of vigilantism in rural areas but believed that they could work freely in Harare. We believe this incident demonstrates a rising level of desperation and anger among unemployed young men. It also shows how easily these frustrations can be converted into ruling party-tinged hostility against outsiders, especially foreign journalists. ¶7. Comment continued: The journalists involved in this incident do not want the USG to make an issue of it. They are concerned that raising the profile of the incident could make it even more difficult, if not impossible, for them to work in Zimbabwe. Given the extraordinary difficulty of getting permission to work here, they prefer not to risk expulsion or banishment. The reporters do, however, agree that the incident marks an escalation of the level of tension in Zimbabwe and a departure from the relative freedom international journalists have had to work in Harare and other major urban areas. End comment. WHITEHEAD