On 20 March 2019, the Kwekwe Press Club lodged a letter to protest the continued harassment of journalists at the hands of ZANU-PF youths and supporters. The Kwekwe Press Club chairperson Michael Magoronga handed over the letter to the ZANU-PF Midlands province spokesperson Cornelius Mupereri.
Through the letter, the Kwekwe Press Club calling upon the party to immediately stop attacks on the media in the town. The journalists noted that it was increasingly belonging difficult for the media to carry out its duties in an environment where their safety and security is not guaranteed.
“As journalists, we are very much disappointed with the development. The situation makes it difficult for journalists to perform their duties without fear of assault and harassment,” said Magoronga.
The petition comes after a ZANU-PF youth assaulted Mduduzi Masiya, a photojournalist with Midlands Observer on 1 March 2019.
Kwekwe Press Club chairperson Michael Magoronga (left) handing over their letter to Cornelius Mupereri ZANU-PF Spokesperson for Midlands province.
This is the second time in six months that ZANU-PF’s leadership in the Midlands has been lobbied to act against media violations perpetrated by its members and supporters in the province. In September 2018, the MISA Zimbabwe Kwekwe advocacy committee engaged with ZANU-PF’s provincial leadership to put a stop to continued violations against media practitioners at the hands of ZANU-PF members and supporters.
//ENDS
