Journalists With Expired Accreditation Cards Free To Conduct Their Duties - ZRP

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has said journalists with expired accreditation cards are free to conduct their duties without interference from law enforcement agents during the 21-day national lockdown.

In a statement on Monday, Police said they had consulted with the Ministry of Information after a journalist was arrested in Gweru in the course of his duties. The statement read:

We have taken note of the purported arrest of a journalist in Gweru on account of expired accreditation cards.

Police General Headquarters has intervened after consultation with the Ministry of Information Publicity and Broadcasting Services.

All journalists with such expired cards are free to conduct their duties without hindrance, information which has since been communicated to our stations.

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We have a direct communication mechanism with media bodies who should feel free to contact us in case of any challenges.

On the other hand, journalists should not manifest confrontational attitudes towards law enforcement agents while they perform their duties.

Zimbabwe has commenced the 21-day national lockdown this Monday in a bid to suppress the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

The global pandemic has killed tens of thousands of people with Al Jazeera reporting that Iran and Spain have recorded 177 and 812 deaths respectively in the past 24 hours.