Zimbabwe journalist shot in S Africa- report

JOHANNESBURG, July 26 (Reuters) The editor of ZimOnline, an independent Zimbabwe news agency based in South Africa, was shot and seriously wounded this week in Johannesburg, its deputy editor today said.

The attack on Abel Mutsakani occurred Monday night as he arrived at his Johannesburg home, Abel Chapatarongo told Reuters. He said that three men were involved in the shooting, which left Mutsakani with a ruptured lung.

''He is in a stable condition, but the doctors say they can't remove the bullet because it is lodged near the heart,'' Chapatarongo said. The attackers fled without stealing anything after Mutsakani's wife triggered the house alarm, he added.

A police spokesman today confirmed the shooting.

''We do have a case of attempted murder that is being investigated. The suspect is unknown and we are busy investigating the matter,'' Gauteng provincial police spokesman Sanku Tsunke said.

South Africa is grappling with one of the world's worst rates of violent crime. The number of murders, carjackings and home invasions has risen in the past year despite efforts to beef up police forces.

South African-based journalists, including a correspondent for the US television network CNN, have been victims of violent crime in the past year. There is no evidence, however, that they were targeted because of their profession.

A rising number of journalists based in Zimbabwe also have been assaulted in what some say is an orchestrated campaign by President Robert Mugabe's government to silence dissent. A freelance television cameraman was found murdered earlier this year after disappearing from his home in Harare.

Reuters SY GC2043