[Mugabe’s Police have arrested about 20,000 Blacks in a crack-down in the last week. Taking photographs is not something Mugabe likes. I have heard rumours of people being shot for walking around with a camera or a video camera. About 2 or so years ago, an American died under mysterious circumstances in Zimbabwe, and I heard via the grapevine that he was possibly shot by the Police he was filming things. Mugabe does not like the TRUTH getting out! He wants to kill people quietly. Jan]

Harare – Zimbabwe police have arrested a US citizen caught filming police as they carried out a clean-up campaign against illegal housing and unregistered traders in the eastern city of Mutare, state radio reported on Monday.

The station said Howard Smith Gillman was likely to face charges under Zimbabwe’s strict press laws which forbid anyone to practise as a journalist without a licence from the state. Those convicted under the law can receive a two-year jail sentence.

The report said Gillman could face charges under censorship laws for allegedly being in possession of pornographic material, as well as charges for immigration offences.

“Upon further investigation… Gillman was found in possession of pornographic material at the place where he was residing in Mutare,” the radio station said, adding that the American had also been in Zimbabwe on an expired visa.

‘Gillman was found in possession of pornographic material’
The arrest comes two months after Sunday Telegraph journalists, Toby Harnden and Julian Simmonds, were arrested while photographing voters here on election day on March 31. The two were released after two weeks in jail. – Sapa-DPA

This article was originally published on page 8 of Cape Times on May 31, 2005

Source: Independent Online (IOL)
URL: http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click…/p>