ZIMBABWEAN police on Friday charged Obed Zilwa, a South African photograper who works for the Associated Press, with the bombing of pro-opposition Zimbabwe newspaper, the Daily News. “He is being charged with throwing or planting a bomb with the intention of destroying a building,” Jonathan Samkange, the lawyer representing Zilwa said. If convicted, Zilwa could face a maximum sentence of life in prison. About 100 journalists gathered at the Zimbabwean consulate in Cape Town on Friday to demand his release. The protesters, including reporters, photographers and cameramen, plastered the consulate with petitions and placards. Zimbabwean diplomats refused to receive a petition from the demonstrators or answer the telephone. Zilwa’s arrest was a ploy by the Zimbabwean government to suppress media coverage of the violence in the country, journalist Alvin Andrews, from Associated Press TV, told the gathering. “We knew sooner or later they would clamp down on the foreign media,” Andrews said. Zilwa was one of the first journalists at the scene of last Saturday night’s blast. Western Cape premier Gerald Morkel, the ANC in the province and the Democratic Party have also condemned the arrest.