MDC-Alliance youths have been accused of assaulting freelance journalist Tamuka Charakupa in Harare’s dormitory town of Chitungwiza on Sunday.

According to Charakupa, he was assaulted following clashes between MDC-Alliance youths and those from Zanu PF. He said the MDC-Alliance youths were part of a convoy of vehicles that roamed Chitungwiza South for most of the afternoon canvassing for votes for the party’s candidate, Advocate Maxwell Mavhunga.

Four MDC-Alliance youths accosted Charakupa as he took pictures of the clashes with his mobile phone. One of the youths snatched his phone. Charakupa’s spectacles were also broken in the process after he received a blow to his ear.

He reported the incident to the police and managed to identify two of his assailants following Mavhunga’s assistance, resulting in their arrest. The suspects who are in custody are expected to appear in court on Tuesday on charges of assault and theft.

The Media Institute of Southern Africa MISA, expressed concerns on the attack of the journalist. The organisation urged political parties to desist from the habit of assaulting journalists who are doing their work.

“MISA Zimbabwe urges supporters of political parties to desist from perpetrating violence and assaulting journalists conducting their constitutionally protected duties of gathering and disseminating information,” said the media monitoring body in a statement.