Police bar Zimbabwean journalists from covering opposition activists at court
Lusaka, January 23, 2023—Zimbabwean authorities should immediately investigate the recent barring of journalists from covering a court appearance of an opposition politician and ensure that members of the press are not blocked from doing their jobs, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday. Around noon on January 16, in Budiriro, southwest of the capital city…
Zimbabwean opposition party members threaten, obstruct journalists at political meeting
On December 18, 2022, political activists and security personnel affiliated with the Movement for Democratic Change, a Zimbabwean opposition party, threatened a group of journalists covering the party’s meeting in Harare, the capital, according to news reports, a report by the Zimbabwean chapter of the regional press freedom group Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA),…
Zimbabwean journalists assaulted, harassed, and blocked from covering events
Lusaka, October 13, 2022—Zimbabwean authorities and ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) should investigate the assaults and harassment of journalists covering events of public interest in the past week, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. “The increasing cases of violence against journalists in Zimbabwe is becoming a serious source of concern and must…
Zimbabwean authorities charge journalist Hope Chizuzu under cybercrime law
Lusaka, October 6, 2022—Zimbabwean authorities should immediately drop charges against sports freelancer journalist Hope Chizuzu, return his electronic devices, and allow him to carry out his work freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. Around midmorning on September 29, police detectives went to Chizuzu’s office in the central business district of the capital Harare,…
Two Zimbabwean journalists denied entry to political rally, one attacked by security agent
Lusaka, September 21, 2022—Zimbabwean authorities should hold accountable the security agent who attacked journalist Ruvimbo Muchenje at a rally for opposition political party Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), and the CCC should ensure journalists are not unduly denied access to its public events or harassed for doing their job, the Committee to Protect Journalists said…
Four Zimbabwean journalists beaten, forced to delete footage by ruling party supporters
Lusaka, August 25, 2022 – Zimbabwean authorities should investigate the brutal assault of four journalists working for private media outlets, bring the perpetrators to justice, and ensure that party supporters do not attack members of the press covering political rallies, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. The reporters assaulted are: Chelsea Mashayaombe, a reporter…
Zimbabwe’s censorship board bans Danish documentary about opposition leader
Lusaka, August 16, 2022–Zimbabwean authorities must lift the ban on the documentary film “President” by Danish journalist Camilla Nielsson and not abuse censorship laws for political ends ahead of next year’s general election, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. The film, which follows opposition leader Nelson Chamisa on the 2018 presidential election campaign trail,…
Zimbabwe police charge 2 journalists with publishing false information
Lusaka, August 5, 2022 — Zimbabwean authorities should immediately drop all charges against journalists Wisdom Mdzungairi and Desmond Chingarande and allow them to work freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. On Tuesday, August 2, police summoned Mdzungairi, editor-in-chief of the privately owned media company Alpha Media Holdings, and Chingarande, a senior reporter with…
Journalists barred from covering Zimbabwean first lady
On July 19, 2022, a spokesperson for Zimbabwean First Lady Auxullia Mnangagwa barred four journalists from covering an event featuring Mnangagwa, according to news reports, a statement by the Zimbabwean chapter of the Media Institute of Southern Africa, and two of the journalists, who spoke with CPJ. The event marked the opening of a health…
Zimbabwean journalist Anyway Yotamu charged after assault by police
Lusaka, July 8, 2022 – Zimbabwean authorities should drop all charges against freelance journalist Anyway Yotamu, investigate his assault by police, and hold those responsible to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. At about 11 a.m. on Thursday, July 7, police officers assaulted Yotamu while he was filming an altercation between taxi drivers…