The attack of journalists and the Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) President, Takudzwa Ngadziore by suspected state security agents while addressing the media near Impala Car Rental on September 18, 2020, has been roundly condemned.
The Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition (CiZC) said it was appalled by the continued crackdown on dissent by the Zimbabwean government.
“We implore the government to uphold citizens’ fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution including the right to life, the right to protest peacefully as well as freedom of assembly and association,” CiZC said in a statement.
The journalists reportedly physically assaulted include Bernard Mpofu, James Jemwa, Godwin Mangudya, Thomas Madhuku, and Munashe Chokodza amid reports that their equipment was confiscated and destroyed.
“One of the assailants attacked me and took my phone that I was using to record the ZINASU press conference near Impala Car Rental. Journalism should never be a crime,” one of the victims, Thomas Madhuku, told Spiked Online Media.
Toneo Rutsito, the President of the Zimbabwe Online Content Creators weighed in by registering his disappointment over the attack of journalists and students.
“I am very disappointed with the latest attacks, not only against my journalist, Rumbidzai Chizarura but also the other journalists assaulted while covering demonstrations and the press conference. We have a Constitutional mandate to cover any story,” Rutsito said.
Tabani Moyo, the Director of the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Zimbabwe also roundly condemned the attacks on journalists and said his organisation will engage the Zimbabwe Republic Police and the Ministry of Information over the matter.
