Independent journalists detained covering Zanu (PF) protest

Muperi from The Daily News and Masvingise from the Newsday were detained by the party's security personnel because they were purportedly 'championing the regime change agenda'.

The journalists were covering a demonstration by the party’s membership from as far as Zvimba, Mutoko and Goromonzi among other areas who were protesting against the imposition of candidates ahead of the party’s primary elections slated for June 24.

Last week, Herbert Moyo, a journalist from The Independent, was attacked by MDC-T members while covering a demonstration by party supporters from Sunningdale in Harare.

Bulawayo, The Chronicle senior reporter, Mashudu Nechianda, was reportedly attacked by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's aides and had his notebook confiscated and recordings on his mobile phone deleted while covering a business community meeting.

Narrating her ordeal to The Zimbabwean, one of the detained reporters said: “Initially, all the five journalists covering the protest were detained but the other three were released after it was established that they were from the state media."

She said they were interrogated and told that the independent media was championing the regime change agenda and they (reporters) deserved to be taught a lesson so that they stop being traitors.

“As we were about to be whisked away by the party members, the Minister of Information, Webster Shamu arrived. One of us asked to use the bathroom and sought the intervention of the minister who then came to our rescue and that is when we were released,” said one of the reporters who refused to be named.

Efforts to get a comment from Zanu (PF) spokesperson, Rugare Gumbo were futile as his mobile was continuously engaged while Shamu was not reachable.

Zimbabwe Union of Journalists Secretary General, Foster Dongozi, called on all the political parties’ leadership to publicly denounce violence against journalists ahead of this year’s general election.

He said: “We condemn the detention of the journalists in the strongest terms. Things are going to get worse as we head towards elections.

“We urge political party leaders to publicly declare zero tolerance to violence against media houses and journalists,” said Dongozi.

Last week, suspected Zanu (PF) supporters confiscated and tore 40 copies of the Newsday in Mbare.

The supporters were reportedly riled by an article in the paper on the formation of a grand coalition to unseat President Robert Mugabe.

Zanu (PF) has reportedly compensated Newsday for the torn newspapers.