ROWDY suspected MDC Alliance youths in Masvingo caused a stir on Sunday when they harassed a ZBC television crew covering the party’s rally at Mucheke stadium where their president Mr Nelson Chamisa was addressing.

The youths, who appeared drunk, hurled obscenities at the crew and took away an umbrella from the public broadcaster’s cameraman Pullen Siampepu who was protecting a camera from showers which lashed the ancient city.

An MDC Alliance member wrestled the umbrella from the youths who seemed bent on humiliating the reporters.

They accused the public broadcaster of being biased and reporting inaccurately about their party.

“ZBC TV should cover Chamisa in a fair and positive manner. You are being used by the ruling party and we do not want to see you here as you are a biased lot,” said one youth from the crowd.

“Whether you keep reporting lies or not, Chamisa is going to win resoundingly and very soon you will lose your jobs as he will be in control of the national television. Better you get soaked in the rains, you are useless,” shouted one of the youths as he snatched the umbrella.

The ZBC camera was damaged by rain after MDC Alliance supporters grabbed the umbrella that was shielding it.

It took the intervention of party’s presidential candidate, Nelson Chamisa to get the umbrella back.

At a time when the media has been walking the path affording all political parties coverage as mandated by the constitution and electoral laws, the ZBC Masvingo news crew had a torrid time with the opposition party’s rowdy supporters.

The party supporters snatched the umbrella demanding the crew to leave the spot, forcing Chamisa to momentarily stop his address and demand that the group returns the umbrella.

Chamisa apologised to the ZBC crew after the rally.