Zimbabwe: Two journalists Assaulted by CIO, Party Militants within 48 Hours

Zimbabwe: Two journalists Assaulted by CIO, Party Militants within 48 Hours.

Reporters, Godwin Mangudya from Voice of America (VOA) and DunmoreMundai from Alpha Media Holdings (AMH) were assaulted on 8 and 10 October in Harare, Zimbabwe’s capital. Members of the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) and party militants from the Zimbabwe African National Union- Patriotic Front (ZANU – PF) attacked them while they were covering the party’s Central Committee elections. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) condemns this act of brutality and intimidation against journalists who were simply doing their jobs. It calls on the government to guarantee the safety and security of journalists and to ensure that those who perpetrate crimes against journalists are brought to justice.

Mangudya told local media that he was assaulted by members of the ruling ZANU – PF militants and members of the CIO “despite identifying himself and producing his constitutionally-accredited Zimbabwe Media Commission (ZMC) press card”. He was detained for one hour and footage on his phone was deleted. Mundai sustained injuries on his back and arm. These assaults come against a backdrop of increased aggressions by political parties against media workers in Zimbabwe. 

The Zimbabwe Union of Journalists (ZUJ) said “Violence and harassment of journalists must stop”.

IFJ Secretary General, Anthony Bellanger, said: “ We strongly condemn this act of intimidation against a journalist who was simplydoing his job in the public interest.  We call on the government to ensure the safety of all media workers on duty. Freedom of expression and media freedom are fundamental rights guaranteed by the Zimbabwean Constitution and other international instruments such as the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights which Zimbabwe have also signed and ratified”.

Credit: International Federation of Journalists(IFJ).