Journalist attacked by Zanu PF thugs during vending bay skirmishes in Bulawayo

Voice of America Studio 7 reporter dragged to Zanu PF vehicle and assaulted by two men wearing party T-shirts and caps

Brute ... One of the men said to be behind the attack on journalist Annahstacia Ndlovu (top left) is seeing in Zanu PF regalia

BULAWAYO – A journalist was attacked by two men wearing Zanu PF regalia in Bulawayo on Monday after filming them evicting street vendors without the party’s membership cards, the Zimbabwe Union of Journalists said.

Annastacia Ndlovu, a correspondent of the Voice of America’s Studio 7, was interviewing some of the victims of the Zanu PF mob when she was dragged to a branded party vehicle and assaulted.

“I introduced myself as a journalist but they ordered me to delete the video I had taken. They pushed me to their vehicle while assaulting me as their other accomplices ran away,” Ndlovu said.

Her phone was seized and the men deleted videos on it, but one video clearly showing their faces survived, she said.

“We know those people and I’ve reported the matter to the police,” she added.

A mob numbering as many as 100 people, most wearing Zanu PF regalia, moved up and down 5^th Avenue in Bulawayo evicting vendors who could not prove their membership to the party. The group claimed Zanu PF owns all vending bays on the road, where all street hawkers were previously bussed to go and register to vote and buy Zanu PF membership if they wanted to maintain their stalls.

The Zimbabwe Union of Journalists (ZUJ) condemned the attack on the journalist.

“Journalist Annastacia Ndlovu has been assaulted by alleged Zanu PF members in Bulawayo CBD while doing her work even after identifying herself. This is gross violation of her rights, the constitution and the position of the party as enunciated by their secretary general Obert Mpofu at a recent meeting,” ZUJ said in a statement.

“In that engagement, Zanu PF committed to a zero tolerance on violation and harassment of journalists. We call upon Zanu PF in Bulawayo to help ensure the culprits are identified and arrested,” ZUJ said.

The mob also acted aggressively against four other journalists – Lungelo Ndlovu, Simba Muparanganda, Pamenus Tuso and Lucky Tshuma – according to the union.

“We would like to appeal to the President Emmerson Mnangagwa to help ensure journalists are safe to operate,” ZUJ added.

Zanu PF is banking on CDB vendors – many operating illegally according to the City of Bulawayo – to build a voter base for Tendayi Charuka, its candidate for the National Assembly in Bulawayo Central. He is up against Surrender Kapoikilu of the Citizens Coalition for Change in the August 23 general elections.