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Harare cameraman's body dumped | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A Zimbabwean cameraman abducted from his home in the capital, Harare, last week has been murdered. | A Zimbabwean cameraman abducted from his home in the capital, Harare, last week has been murdered. |
Edward Chikomba's badly beaten body was found at the weekend in bushes next to a road some 50km west of Harare. | Edward Chikomba's badly beaten body was found at the weekend in bushes next to a road some 50km west of Harare. |
Correspondents say the reason for his killing is not yet clear, but there are concerns it is linked to the smuggling of news footage out of Zimbabwe. | Correspondents say the reason for his killing is not yet clear, but there are concerns it is linked to the smuggling of news footage out of Zimbabwe. |
Meanwhile, unspecified action has been threatened against businesses that shut during the trade union general strike. | Meanwhile, unspecified action has been threatened against businesses that shut during the trade union general strike. |
Minister Obert Mpofu told Zimbabwe's Herald newspaper that firms which closed on Tuesday or Wednesday had been given 24 hours to state their reasons in writing. | Minister Obert Mpofu told Zimbabwe's Herald newspaper that firms which closed on Tuesday or Wednesday had been given 24 hours to state their reasons in writing. |
It's not clear whether the murder was a message to the media or a political killing Former colleague of Mr Chikomba | It's not clear whether the murder was a message to the media or a political killing Former colleague of Mr Chikomba |
The strike, which was poorly observed, was called to protest at Zimbabwe's deepening economic crisis | The strike, which was poorly observed, was called to protest at Zimbabwe's deepening economic crisis |
Tension has been high in the country since police broke up a prayer meeting last month organised by the main opposition party, detaining and beating several government opponents. | Tension has been high in the country since police broke up a prayer meeting last month organised by the main opposition party, detaining and beating several government opponents. |
More than 80% of Zimbabweans living in poverty and inflation is running at more than 1,700% - the highest in the world. | More than 80% of Zimbabweans living in poverty and inflation is running at more than 1,700% - the highest in the world. |
The BBC's Peter Greste says with inflation so high and four out of five workers without a job, there is plenty to complain about, but opponents of President Robert Mugabe are both broke and scared. | The BBC's Peter Greste says with inflation so high and four out of five workers without a job, there is plenty to complain about, but opponents of President Robert Mugabe are both broke and scared. |
Message | Message |
Mr Chikomba was a freelance cameraman who had worked at the state-run Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC). | Mr Chikomba was a freelance cameraman who had worked at the state-run Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC). |
Police were deployed across Harare during the strike | Police were deployed across Harare during the strike |
Eyewitnesses say Mr Chikomba was seized from his home by armed men last Thursday. | Eyewitnesses say Mr Chikomba was seized from his home by armed men last Thursday. |
The newzimbabwe.com says he had links with the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). | |
"He was coming from a popular pub which almost exclusively caters for MDC supporters," a friend told the website. | "He was coming from a popular pub which almost exclusively caters for MDC supporters," a friend told the website. |
Correspondents say the police informed his family that a body had been found, but have not commented further. | Correspondents say the police informed his family that a body had been found, but have not commented further. |
"It's not clear whether the murder was a message to the media or a political killing," a former colleague told the UK's Independent newspaper. | "It's not clear whether the murder was a message to the media or a political killing," a former colleague told the UK's Independent newspaper. |
The paper says ZBC staff have been sacked or harassed in the past under suspicion of selling pictures to foreign broadcasters. | The paper says ZBC staff have been sacked or harassed in the past under suspicion of selling pictures to foreign broadcasters. |
Television pictures showing beaten up MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai were broadcast around the world in March. | Television pictures showing beaten up MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai were broadcast around the world in March. |
According to UK-based SW Radio Africa, ZBC journalists say there is a probe under way to discover how footage of President Mugabe's February birthday party was leaked. | According to UK-based SW Radio Africa, ZBC journalists say there is a probe under way to discover how footage of President Mugabe's February birthday party was leaked. |
Local journalist Gift Phiri of the UK-based The Zimbabwean newspaper was detained and badly beaten by police on Sunday. | Local journalist Gift Phiri of the UK-based The Zimbabwean newspaper was detained and badly beaten by police on Sunday. |
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