Three news photographers were arrested in Zimbabwe while trying to cover a protest outside Parliament by about 30 women who were also detained by police, their lawyer said on Wednesday.
The photographers, who include Reuters photojournalist Howard Burditt, as well as a photographer with a local daily and a freelancer, were picked up by police on Tuesday afternoon while covering the arrest of around 30 women demonstrators.
”They [the photographers] are actually staying in the [police] cells,” said lawyer Alec Muchadehama on Wednesday.
The photographers had not yet been charged, he said, adding that all three are registered with the state media commission, as required under the country’s strict press laws.
”I don’t think there’s much quarrel with them,” said Muchadehama.
The trio were arrested while taking photographs of the women who handed over a petition against a Bill due to be debated in Parliament that aims to outlaw foreign human rights groups as well as foreign funding for local rights groups and non-governmental organisations. – Sapa-AFP