Media violations

Two Masvingo journalists have petitioned Zimbabwe Police Commissioner-General, Godwin Matanga to intervene over the threats by Assistant Commissioner Taoneyi Nyazema.

Freelance journalist Terence Sipuma was reportedly assaulted by members of the police and the army at the Kuwadzana roundabout in Harare while on his way to Chegutu to report on Zimbabwe’s 21-day COVID-19 lockdown.

The officer Commanding Masvingo Province, Assistant Commissioner (AC) Tawoneyi Nyazema threatened two senior journalists in Masvingo over a news column in TellZim News, a provincial publication.

MISA Mozambique expresses its concern with information reporting the disappearance of the journalist and announcer of Rádio Comunitária de Palma, in Cabo Delgado, Ibraimo Abu Mbaruco.

Mary Taruvinga, a journalist with NewZimbabwe.com was this morning reportedly harassed by members of the army and police officers while on her way to work in Harare’s central business district.

Beatific Ngumbwanda a journalist with TellZim weekly newspaper was on 8 April 2020 arrested by the police in Chiredzi, Zimbabwe who accused him of violating the lockdown regulations as stipulated in terms of Statutory Instrument (SI) 82 of 2020.

Freelance journalist Panashe Makufa was beaten up by members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), today around 1700hrs in the Harare suburb of Kuwadzana while undertaking his professional duties.

Simbarashe Sithole a news reporter with NewsDay Zimbabwe was reportedly arraigned before Zanu PF politicians by the party’s provincial chairperson at a meeting in Mvurwi to explain a story about an alleged rift between MPs and war veterans in the province.

Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) cameraperson Providence Maranelli was on 10 February 2020 assaulted by an MDC-Alliance security detail in Gwanda, Matabeleland South Province, moments after party leader Nelson Chamisa had addressed a meeting.

Freelance journalist Nyasha Majoni was on 27 January 2020 reportedly manhandled by police in Kwekwe, Zimbabwe who accused him of sending pictures and video clips of police arresting illegal money changers.