Zambia frees N.Z. TV cameraman

Press, 28 November 1979, Page 1

Zambia frees N.Z. TV cameraman

NZPA-Reuter Lusaka A New Zealand television cameraman, Derek McKendry, was released from custody in Zambia yesterday and immediately left on a scheduled flight to London. Mr McKendry had been detained for questioning since November 21, when an Australian television reporter, Tony Joyce, was shot in the head while the two men, both working for the Australian Broadcasting Commission, were filming a bridge near Lusaka which had been blown up by Zimbabwe Rhodesian troops. Diplomatic sources said that Mr Joyce was shot while he and Mr McKendry were sitting in a police car after being arrested at or near the bridge. Mr Joyce was taken to the Lusaka Hospital and after surgery was flown to London on November 24 for additional treatment, still unconscious and in critical condition. The Australian High Commissioner to Zambia (Mr Edwin Ryde), who is based at Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, flew to Lusaka at the week-end to help arrange Mr Joyce’s, flight to London and negotiate Mr McKendry’s release. Mr Ryde gave the Zambian Government’s version of the shooting incident at Chongwe Bridge, 40km east of Lusaka, but would say nothing about Mr McKendry’s account of the affair. Mr Ryde cited the Zambians as saying that the two men had set off for

Chongwe Bridge without permission, after being told by Information Ministry officials that press passes would be issued the next day. While they were filming the bridge a local citizen saw them and told soldiers guarding the wreckage, in line with official instructions to report any suspicious persons to the authorities. As the two men set off for Lusaka in their hired taxi, Zambian soldiers opened fire to stop the vehicle and a bullet hit Mr Joyce. Mr Ryde said that the Zambians had emphasised that the soldiers were tense and edgy because of the present “war situation” and the recent series of Zimbabwe Rhodesian raids. He said that another version of the shooting incident differed from that given by the Zambian authorities; and it was believed that Mr McKendry would give his account of the shooting soon. Zambian Information Ministry officials said last week that when Messrs Joyce and McKendry visited their office on November 21 they had not said that they intended to go to Chongwe. Other foreign and local reporters were taken to the wrecked bridge with a police escort on November 23. Several other foreign reporters in Lusaka are still waiting for press passes more than a week after arriving in Zambia and handing in their application forms at the Ministry.