Zimbabwean journalists on 28 July 2017 marched to Harare Central Police Station protesting the assault by the police of three colleagues employed by the privately owned NewsDay daily newspaper.
The Harare-based journalists marched to the police station from the Ambassador Hotel through the central business district following the assault on 27 July 2017 of journalists Obey Manayiti, Shepherd Tozvireva , Abigail Mutsikidze, and their driver, Raphael Phiri.
Manayiti sustained a bruised lip and swollen eye while Tozvireva and Phiri were also roughed up by the plainclothes police.
Upon arrival at the police station, the journalists who were joined in their march by MISA Zimbabwe Chairperson, Kumbirai Mafunda, requested to meet the officer-in-charge following the assault of the journalists who were on duty in the central business district.
Journalists Blessed Mhlanga and Philemon Jambaya, representing their colleagues, then held a meeting with Inspector Ziburubudu in the presence of MISA Zimbabwe Legal Officer Farai Nhende. The journalists expressed their concern with continued cases involving the harassment and assault of journalists on duty by the police.
Inspector Ziburubudu advised the journalists to write and request for a meeting with the Officer commanding Harare district.
Read MISA Zimbabwe’s recent position on the assault of journalists by the police.
