OWN CORRESPONDENT, Harare | Monday 7.30pm.
ZIMBABWEAN newspaper executive Clive Wilson, who was freed on Monday after being detained over a report of an alleged coup plot, vowed that Zimbabwe’s independent press will not be cowed.
“Not for a moment,” said the British-born former editor in response to a question at a news conference at his home when he was released after three nights in detention. Two journalists from the Standard newspaper, of which Wilson is managing director, said they were tortured with electric shocks and beatings when they were detained last week in connection with the report.
Wilson (62) said he feared at times that he would face similar treatment, but that while his detention was “humiliating and uncomfortable” and he was “desperately tired”, he was not threatened.
He said he was interrogated for more than three hours as police pressed him for the sources of the Standard’s report that 23 army officers had been arrested for inciting a coup against President Robert Mugabe.
Wilson said “one might have hoped for a statement from President Mugabe” to outline where he stands on the whole saga. Mugabe has remained silent, in the face of widespread condemnation of the treatment of the journalists by international and local human rights groups.
A protest demonstration is being planned to coincide with the ceremonial opening of parliament by the president on Tuesday. Wilson was released when prosecutors declined to press charges against him because they lacked a case, but police told his lawyers they will continue their investigations in the hope of making some charges stick.
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