Ruling ZANU PF supporters and councillors in Chitungwiza today threatened journalists against taking pictures of protests that broke out during the dormitory town’s mayoral elections.

According to an eye witness Philemon Jambaya, trouble started when one of the four ZANU PF councillors for Chitungwiza moved a motion seeking postponement of Chitungwiza’s mayoral elections.

During the motion, the ZANU PF councillor also sought the expulsion of journalists from council chambers where the election was scheduled to take place.

The motion did not sail through as MDC Alliance councillors who make up the majority, voted against it, resulting in protests from ruling party supporters who were sitting in the council chambers.

“When journalists started taking pictures and filming the protests, a ZANU PF councillor threatened the reporters against doing so.
“ZANU PF supporters reportedly then echoed similar threats against the journalists as they shoved them in an attempt to remove them from council chambers,” said Jambaya.
He added that a pregnant journalist was also shoved and pushed during the ensuing commotion.

Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) has condemned the censorship, banning, or expulsion of journalists from public events which they said is against the letter and spirit of media freedoms as espoused in Zimbabwe’s constitution.

“MISA Zimbabwe reiterates that journalism is not a crime. Furthermore, citizens have a right to access information on government processes such as the election of mayors and other public officers,” noted MISA.