Sengerayi Manyanga, ZANU-PF Councillor for Masvingo urban’s Ward 10 on the morning of 1 February 2019 verbally assaulted and threatened TellZim staff.
According to TellZim’s Sub-Editor Bothwell Chabarika, Manyanga appeared at the newspaper’s offices and threatened staff over an article published in this week’s edition of the paper.
The headline article was on the alleged threats Manyanga made against the Masvingo Town Clerk during a Council meeting held earlier this week.
The paper also carried reports that Manyanga was involved in planning ZANU PF protests against the Masvingo Town Council. After threatening the weekly paper’s staff, Manyanga left the offices saying he was proceeding to report the matter to the Police.
MISA Zimbabwe Position
MISA Zimbabwe condemns the intimidation of journalists in the course of their duties. Aggrieved parties are urged to file their complaints with the Voluntary Media Council of Zimbabwe instead of taking the law into their own hands.
MISA Zimbabwe also reminds media practitioners to employ the profession’s safety and security measures while covering hostile situations. Media practitioners are advised to 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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