A freelance journalist, Nyasha Mukapiko with online publication Open Parly Zimbabwe, was assaulted and harassed on the afternoon of 22 November 2018. Mukapiko was covering the national budget presentation by the Minister of Finance at the Parliament of Zimbabwe.
Trouble broke out when MDC Alliance members of parliament (MP)s refused to rise in acknowledgement when President Mnangagwa walked into parliament chambers. The Speaker of the National Assembly then ordered the expulsion of the sitting opposition members of parliament.
Police were brought in to effect this expulsion, leading to clashes between the opposition MPs and the police. Mukapiko who was recording the clashes on his mobile phone was grabbed by two officers who identified themselves as members of the Central Intelligence Organisation and wrangled Mukapiwo’s mobile phone from him. The videos he had captured were deleted. After the forced deletion of the videos, the officers returned the phone.
MISA Zimbabwe Position MISA Zimbabwe strongly condemns the censoring of media practitioners while performing their constitutionally guaranteed duties. The right to access information and media freedom as provided for in the constitution remains fundamental as the nation and the world deserves to know about what is happening in Zimbabwe.
Media practitioners are advised to also utilise the MISA JournoSOS App as well as the MISA Panic Button App in the event of any violations. MISA Zimbabwe staff is also on standby to assist media practitioners injured or arrested in the line of duty. The MISA Hotline is 0784 437 338.
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