The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Zambia is saddened with the reported capture and torture of the Daily Nation reporter Michael Miyoba on Monday (January 15, 2018) by Zambia Air Force (ZAF) officers because he had identified himself as a journalist.
Miyoba was transiting through the Central Business District (CBD) enruite to home after a hard day’s work but was stopped by ZAF officers who were in a fracas with some vendors.
We are dismayed that the Daily Nation reporter could be physically attacked by the officers on suspicion that he had taken pictures of them as they were chasing away street vendors from the Central Business District in Lusaka which is one of the interventions to address the Cholera outbreak by government.
One of the officers pulled Miyoba’s genitals, slapped him and later they placed him into a van where they poured cold water on him after which they drove him to the Post Office where he was released after a second request for identification.
This makes sad reading and we therefore call on ZAF to discipline the said officers who are deployed to help curb Cholera and urge them to desist from physically attacking journalists just because they identify as such when it comes to their profession.
Issued by
Ms Hellen Mwale
MISA Zambia Chairperson
Contact 260 211 294285
