Zimbabwe 'hit list' journalist questioned

The Zimbabwean journalist who is reported to be top of President Robert Mugabe's hit list today told of his fears when he was…

The Zimbabwean journalist who is reported to be top of President Robert Mugabe's hit list today told of his fears when he was questioned by police in Harare.

Mr Basildon Peta, 30, who writes for the Independentin London as well as the Zimbabwe Financial Gazette, said despite the intimidation, he intends to stay in his homeland.

"It's a very difficult decision to make, to leave your country. I'm going to stay and do my job, but I will be careful," he pledged.

Earlier today Mr Peta attended a police station in Harare.

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"First of all they came to my workplace but I wasn't there. They left a message telling me to go to the station.

"My lawyers spoke to them and insisted that I was not coming to the police station unless they allowed them to come too. Eventually they agreed."

Asked if he had ever felt in fear for his life during the ordeal, Mr Peta replied: "I was concerned. I was going into a police station where my colleagues have ended up in cells."

Earlier this week another Zimbabwean newspaper, The Standard, published a list of the journalists who, it said, were being targeted by President Mugabe's regime.

Mr Peta's name was at the top.

Earlier today, the International Press Institute (IPI), the global network of editors, leading journalists and media executives, sent a letter to President Mugabe "condemning in the strongest possible terms the recent arrest and detention of Mark Chavunduka."