SABC cameraman held in Harare

2006-09-16 12:33

Harare - An SABC cameraman was held briefly in Harare as riot police stormed a courtroom where arrested members of Zimbabwe's main trade union were due to appear, it was reported on Saturday.

Austin Gundani was arrested on Friday afternoon along with freelance reporter Tendai Musiyazviriyo, reports the official Herald newspaper.

The pair were trying to cover the court appearance of a group of Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU) members who were arrested on Wednesday as they tried to demonstrate against low wages and Zimbabwe's worsening economic crisis.

Gundani and Musiyazviriyo were later released, said the Herald.

Detained people claim assaults

There were scenes of chaos at Harare magistrate's court on Friday as ZCTU members tried to chant slogans outside the building, demanding the release of their colleagues and police stormed the court, said the Herald.

The ZCTU and its lawyers said some of the detained were brutally assaulted while in police custody.

ZCTU president Lovemore Matombo and six others appeared in the courtroom wearing slings, said the newspaper.

Wellington Chibebe, the ZCTU's secretary-general, could not attend court because he was still in hospital.

Morgan Tsvangirai, the founding leader of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change, was at court to watch proceedings, according to the report.

Sapa-dpa

- SAPA