via Security agents raid Radio Kwelaz officies – NewsDay Zimbabwe. 18 June 2014 by Blessed Mhlanga
June 18, 2014 in News
STATE security agents yesterday raided offices of a Kwekwe-based community radio initiative, Radio Kwelaz, accusing its staff of illegally broadcasting in contravention of the Broadcasting Services Act (BSA) and Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (Aippa).
BLESSED MHLANGA
Human rights lawyer Valentine Mutatu, who was present during the raid, said the security agents comprised of eight police officers and three members of the Central Intelligence Organisation, said they were searching for “subversive material”.
“They were here with this vague search warrant and they can’t even tell us the offence which my clients have committed. They have simply said they are calling experts from Harare to see if any offence has been committed,” Mutatu said.
He said the police officers later confiscated compact discs (CD), personal laptops and computers, adding that they were still compiling an inventory list of the seized property.
Journalist Irene Kalulu told NewsDay that her personal laptop had been confiscated during the raid.
Radio Kwelaz has been recording civic awareness CDs and distributing them to its members for the past three years.
In the run-up to last year’s harmonised elections, police arrested staff at Radio Kwelaz on allegations of broadcasting without a licence, but the matter was later withdrawn before plea after the State to produce evidence that they were broadcasting.
COMMENTS
Lets ,look at this story carefully.
First there are no human rights lawyers in Zimbabwe due to the crime at the law society, and, the fact that the have to be apolitical. This a fact agreed to bt the ICC at the Hasgue and EUHCR -Thus all propaganda is being disregarded and the human rights lawyers are under current investigation with some described as terriorists internationally.
This is the first fact as opposed to the journalistic anti government propaganda paid for externally, therefore terrorism.
publicprotector take the log out of your eye.
Free the airwaves – let the people speak, let the people hear. Is that a crime to have a voice in Zimbabwe?
The state is the criminal, criminalising citizens. The state is the terrorist ,terrorising citizens. The state is a bunch of ZANU looters ,looting everything and the rights to all from the citizens.
The pressure will eventually prove to be too much.