activists between October and December 2008. The two were granted bail on May 12, and on July 30 the presiding magistrate agreed to refer the matter to the Supreme Court, where the case is still pending.36 Freelance journalist Kudzanayi Musengi was abducted by suspected state security agents on March 31, 2009. According to his testimony deposed with the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA-Zimbabwe), Musengi’s abductors threatened him with death over his reports on fresh farm invasions in Gweru that were broadcast on Studio 7, Voice of America, a radio station broadcasting into Zimbabwe from the United States. He was later released without charge after being detained for two days.37 Threats and Harassment Journalists and media outlets have also been subjected to threats and harassment from the authorities and security forces, creating major obstacles to reporting on Zimbabwe’s political system and continuing abuses by ZANU-PF. On January 16, 2010, freelance journalist Stanley Kwenda was forced to flee the country following death threats from a senior police officer. The death threats were prompted by a story that Kwenda wrote for The Zimbabwean, a weekly paper published in South Africa and distributed in Zimbabwe. The story reported that a named senior police officer had barred Prime Minister Tsvangirai from visiting police stations across the country.38 Two officials in Prime Minister Tsvangirai’s office confirmed to Human Rights Watch that the prime minister’s plans to visit police stations across the country were stopped as a result of directives from the police officer.39 Kwenda told Human Rights Watch: The police officer hurled insults and threats at me over the phone. He told me, “Kwenda you are to die, you will not last the weekend.” He said I would be dead before my fellow congregants at my church had said their prayers the following Sunday. I was so afraid that I was left trembling. I realized I had no protection in Zimbabwe and my only option was to flee the country.40 36 Civil Society Monitoring Mechanism (CISOMM), “Six Month Shadow Report on the Performance of the Inclusive Government of Zimbabwe,” CISOMM, 2009, p. 46. 37 MISA-Zimbabwe report, “State of the Media Report 2009,” p. 51; and Human Rights Watch interview with Tabani Moyo, MISA-Zimbabwe advocacy officer, Harare, February 5, 2010. 38 Human Rights Watch telephone interview with Stanley Kwenda, February 18, 2010. 39 Human Rights Watch interview with D.D. and M.K., Harare, February 13, 2010. 40 Human Rights Watch telephone interview with Stanley Kwenda, February 18, 2010. Sleight of Hand 14