By Delicious Mathuthu
The Media Institute of Southern Africa, Zimbabwe Chapter (MISA-Zim), has condemned the assault of three journalists in Bulawayo by ZANU PF supporters on the 17th of July while covering skirmishes between the party supporters and vendors.
Annahstacia Ndlovu, who reports for the Voice of America and two freelance journalists, Pamenus Tuso and Lungelo Ndlovu are the victims.
One of the reporters, Lungelo Ndlovu says she has filed a report of the assault at Bulawayo Central Police Station.
Ndlovu says she was approached by some of the supporters who demanded her to identify herself.
They then instructed her to stop filming the clashes before confiscating her mobile phone which she was using to record and they deleted the footage from her device.
MISA-Zim says Ndlovu’s phone was damaged in the process.
The institute also reports that Ndlovu was manhandled.
“She said her alleged assailants went on to slam her against one of the trucks that were parked nearby and she sustained injuries to her abdomen.
“The other journalists had by then fled the scene fearing for their safety,” MISA says.
MISA-Zim has since condemned the act and called for law enforcement to investigate and arrest the perpetrators so that they can be made an example that violence against journalists doing their lawful duties cannot be tolerated.
“MISA-Zimbabwe urges the police to investigate the matter and bring the culprits to book as this will send a strong message to would-be other perpetrators that crimes against journalists conducting their lawful duties will not be tolerated,” the institute wrote.
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