On March 1, 2010, prison officials apprehended and detained Manyere for filming outside a
courthouse in Harare “without the permission of the commissioner of Zimbabwe’s prison
service.”23 Later on the same day, Manyere was handed over to police who questioned him
before releasing him without charge. There is no law in Zimbabwe that prohibits filming
outside courthouses, nor one that requires journalists to seek permission from the
commissioner of prisons before performing their duties.
On January 18, 2010, police arrested and detained Manyere for two hours for filming a public
protest march in Harare by members of Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA).24 He was
released without charge. On another occasion, a group of ZANU-PF youths unlawfully
apprehended and detained Manyere for filming the youths’ public protest against
international sanctions on the ZANU-PF leadership; the youths handed over Manyere to state
security agents who forced him to delete all footage in his camera before they released
him.25
Manyere had been one of the 43 activists abducted and tortured by state security agents in
Zimbabwe from October to December 2008, shortly after the signing of the Global Political
Agreement.26 State security agents arrested Manyere at his home in Norton on December 13,
2008. Without search warrants or any legal justification, they raided his house and
confiscated his work equipment, including a camera and two laptops, which have never
been returned to him.27 While in police custody, Manyere was threatened with death and
accused of taking and sending images of victims of human rights abuses to international
media.28 Manyere was only released on bail on June 29, 2009. At this writing, his case is
pending before the courts.29 Manyere was charged with banditry, sabotage, and terrorism.
His abductors, and later the police, failed to ensure Manyere’s rights to legal representation,
a fair trial, and security of person.30
23
Human Rights Watch interview with Anderson Shadreck Manyere, February 4, 2010.
24
Ibid.
25
Human Rights Watch interview with Anderson Shadreck Manyere, February 4, 2010. See also “Peace Watch 3/2010”; and
“ZANU-PF youths detain journalist,” Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights press statement, February 24, 2010, on file with
Human Rights Watch.
26
See Human Rights Watch, “Zimbabwe: Free Activists Unlawfully Held,” January 15, 2009, http://www.hrw.org/node/79468.
27
Human Rights Watch interview with lawyer representing Manyere, Harare, February 4, 2010.
28
Human Rights Watch interview with Anderson Shadreck Manyere, February 4, 2010.
29
Human Rights Watch interview with Anderson Shadreck Manyere, February 4, 2010.
30
Human Rights Watch interview with lawyer representing Manyere, Harare, February 4, 2010.
Sleight of Hand
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