STATEMENT: The Youth Assembly is riled by state’s harrassment, illegal arrest and unjustified detention of professional journalist, Zenzele Ndebele.

It is regrettable that while the Constitution of Zimbabwe guarantees media freedom as encapsulated in Article 61 and 62, the state through archaic Draconian laws and its repressive apparatus continues to stifle and muzzle media freedoms.

Ndebele’s illegal arrest is a clear testimony that the so-called new dispensation has learnt everything from the Robert Mugabe regime and forgot nothing.

Surprisingly this is the same regime that squarely shoulder blame on opposition “for calling for” what they term illegal sanctions.

Journalists are vehicles of democracy and it is this illegal trample upon on vehicles of democracy that directly invite sanctions on this illegitimate regime.

Zenzele is a professional media practitioner and not a criminal!

Criminals are those that abduct, shoot and kill civilians during broad daylight.

Criminals are those that authorized the deployment of army on innocent citizens.

As the youth leadership of an alternative government we call upon for the immediate release and compensation of Zenzele Ndebele.

Successful nations respect free flow of ideas and information.

*MDC Youth Assembly National Chairman*
Hon Happymore ‘Leader Bvondo’ Chidziva