Southern African Editors Forum Alarmed at Safety Threats Against NewsHawks Journalists

The Southern African Editors Forum expresses deep concern and alarm over recent reports revealing that NewsHawks, a prominent online investigative newspaper in Zimbabwe, has been compelled to halt the publication of a corruption story involving three army generals in the country’s defense force.

In a public statement, the editor of NewsHawks disclosed that journalists from the outlet, particularly News Editor Owen Gagare, are currently under surveillance. This situation echoes the dangers faced by senior journalist Bernard Mpofu in August 2021 when he investigated President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s helicopter crash, citing a “technical failure.”

The editor highlighted the drastic measures taken after Mpofu’s investigative piece, noting that he was “literally run out of town” and forced to permanently leave his home due to safety concerns. In response to the current situation, NewsHawks has opted to remove its reporters from the military story immediately, prioritizing their safety and well-being. As a result, the newspaper will not pursue follow-ups, including those already prepared for the upcoming edition.

While emphasizing that self-censorship and silence are not ideal in investigative journalism, the editor noted that such decisions are necessary to ensure the safety of their reporters, at least for the time being.

SAEF fully supports and agrees with the measures taken by NewsHawks. However, the forum directs a reminder to the Zimbabwean Government, as a UN member state, emphasizing their commitment to treaties advocating for the safety of journalists. SAEF calls on President Mnangagwa to take the lead and order the intelligence agencies to cease their harassment of journalists.

In the statement, SAEF underscores the importance of legitimate governments preventing intelligence agencies from operating unchecked within their borders. In a democracy, where the government is elected by the people, no entity should be above the law, including intelligence agencies claiming to protect the country’s sovereignty. Corruption, the statement asserts, should never be tolerated as part of intelligence gathering.

Issued by: Joseph Ailonga
SAEF: Secretary General