Edward Chikomba

It's the vacuum that illustrates the problem--all of the reporters who have fled, the news outlets that have closed, the stories that have gone unreported. Seven years of government intimidation and deteriorating economic conditions have prompted a steady flow of Zimbabwean journalists to leave the country. CPJ has documented at least 48 journalists as having fled since 2001, although the number is twice that when data from exile organizations is considered. Those ranks include many of the nation's most prominent reporters, constituting the largest group of exiled journalists in the world, CPJ research shows.

April 6, 2007

Mr. Augustin Chihuri
Zimbabwe Commissioner of Police
C/o The Embassy of the Republic of Zimbabwe
1608 New Hampshire Ave
Washington, DC 20009

Via facsimile: (202) 483-9326

Dear Commissioner Chihuri:

We are writing to request that you oversee a transparent and thorough investigation into the recent murder of Edward Chikomba, a veteran cameraman formerly with the state-run Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC). We are concerned by several reports alleging the killing was linked to his work.