Customize Consent Preferences

We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions. You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below.

The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site. ... 

Always Active

Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site, such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data.

No cookies to display.

Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collecting feedback, and other third-party features.

No cookies to display.

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.

No cookies to display.

Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.

No cookies to display.

Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns.

No cookies to display.

Home 9 Media violations 9 Masvingo journalists petition Police Commissioner General over threats

Masvingo journalists petition Police Commissioner General over threats

Masvingo journalists petition Police Commissioner-General, media violations, COVID-19 lockdown, Zimbabwe
13 Apr, 2020
Two Masvingo journalists have petitioned Zimbabwe Police Commissioner-General, Godwin Matanga to intervene over the threats by Assistant Commissioner Taoneyi Nyazema.

Journalists Golden Maunganidze and Passmore Kuzipa, who are respectively director and editor of Masvingo Provincial Weekly publication, TellZim News, have petitioned Zimbabwe Police Commissioner-General, Godwin Matanga to intervene over the threats by Assistant Commissioner Taoneyi Nyazema to both their newspaper and themselves.

The duo, writing through lawyer Derick Charamba petitioned the Commissioner-General to reign in his subordinate as they are now living in fear after being threatened with unspecified action on 11 April 2020 at the Masvingo Central Police station in the presence of the police Provincial Spokesperson, Chief Inspector Charity Mazula.

“On Saturday the 11th of April 2020, our clients were summoned by the Officer Commanding Masvingo Province for a discussion pursuant to an opinion column named Mapombi Adonha which was published in the TellZim edition of 10 April 2020. The respondent was not happy with the contents of that article.

We are reliably informed that the respondent threatened the two journalists with unspecified action and the duo are now living in constant fear. He took their details and dismissed them after having showered them with fear of highest magnitude,” reads the letter.

Maunganidze and Kuzipa, through the assistance of their lawyer, made efforts to seek audience with the Assistant Commissioner in vain on the 11th of April around 1700hrs, as Nyazema rejected to meet them, electing instead to meet them on 13 April. The lawyer was surprised when they went to the offices today, only to be turned away. It was at that moment that the journalists instructed their lawyer, engaged through MISA Zimbabwe, to petition the Commissioner-General to intervene.

“Kindly receive our complaint that our clients are living in constant fear and we have no option but inform your esteemed office that whatever omen and infringement that may befall them after such vivid threats can reasonably be explicable to the Respondent. We implore your office to intervene,” said Charamba

As we have previously stated, the police and the Zimbabwe Media Commission should urgently investigate these cases involving the assault and harassment of journalists and bring the culprits to book, otherwise, these media freedom violations will continue with impunity thereby placing the lives of journalists at great risk.

Equally worrisome is the fact that these violations are being instigated by the law enforcement arm of the government. We further call for the government to uphold the constitution which provides for media freedom through section 61.

//Ends

SOS journalists hotline

If you are injured, detained or arrested ín the line of duty, call our 24/7 SOS journalist hotline on 0784 437 338 to access legal and/or medical assistance. 

Don’t forget to have the number saved in your phone for emergencies!

Find out more about the hotline here.

About MISA

The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) was founded in 1992. Its work focuses on promoting, and advocating for, the unhindered enjoyment of freedom of expression, access to information and a free, independent, diverse and pluralistic media.

Share this

Related news

Call to extend AI beyond traditional governance frameworks

Call to extend AI beyond traditional governance frameworks

There is a need to move beyond the mere adoption of imported AI (Artificial Intelligence) technologies by developing systems that enhance the representation of African languages, thereby extending the application of AI beyond traditional governance frameworks. The...