Journalists were last week ordered to stop recording and to also delete footage of the ZANU PF disturbances that occurred in parliament.
The unconstitutional order was made by roudy members of parliament within the ruling party who moved to stop the journalists from proceeding with their daily capturing of parly business.
The development has led to the MDC-T taking Robert Mugabe’s party to task over its illegal actions. Said MDC-T Mabvuku-Tafara representative Mr James Maridadi, “Members of the Fourth Estate were barred from taking pictures or recording audio and video feed yesterday and it’s an infringement of their rights because this is a public institution,” he said.
He continued, “I wanted to find out who gave that order and using what authority because one journalist called (Godwin) Mangudya was forced out of the gallery when he refused,” said Mr Maridadi.
Jacob Mudenda then asked Mr Maridadi to bring journalists who witnessed the incident on Tuesday to get a picture of what transpired before he makes his ruling.
“Can you bring one journalist on Tuesday who can approach the chair and I will investigate,” he said.
Mudenda is ZANU PF appointee and MDC-T MPs speculate that he is likely to prejudice the investigation in ZANU PF’s favour.
Journalists use their cellphones to record audio and videos of proceedings or update live blogs for their publications but were forced to switch off their cell- phones during disturbances caused by the MDC-T legislators over the absence of some ministers during the question and answer. Journalists accredited to cover Parliament proceedings were ordered to switch off their cellphones, prompting MDC-T Mabvuku-Tafara representative Mr James Maridadi to raise a point of order seeking clarification on who gave the order and using which parliamentary standing order. Journalists were also warned against using their cellphones in the Press Gallery.