Journalist held after drone crashes into Islamic Centre in Harare

HARARE – Police were holding a journalist on Monday after a small drone he was operating crashed into the IQRA Islamic Centre in central Harare.

Columbus Mavhunga, a correspondent for the Voice of America, is “assisting police with investigations” into the incident on Monday morning, a police spokesman said.

“A Mavic 2 Pro drone he was operating along Masotsha Ndlovu Way near Simon Mazorodze Road rammed into the Islamic Centre’s building and fell to the ground,” said Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi.

“A misunderstanding ensued resulting in the center’s administrator Pharoh Osward making a report of trespass and invasion of premises to the police. Police are also looking into allegations that the drone was not licenced by the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe.”

It was not clear late Monday what Mavhunga was filming at the time.

Nyathi urged individuals and institutions owning drones to “ensure they obtain licences and engage neighbours if using drones for private purposes.”