By Shongedzai Mugwagwa

It was a tussle between MDC leader Nelson Chamisa’s security aides and local journalists as the former manhandled several journalists covering the party’s rally in Mkoba Stadium over the weekend.

The Gweru Press club laid complaints against the MDC for the harassment and abuse of journalists—who work for the State broadcaster and Community newspapers.

Various assault charges were raised by the journalists with one saying Chamisa’s bodyguards kicked him in the leg, injuring him even though he had flashed his Zimbabwe Media Commission accreditation card.

According to the Press Release by the Gweru Press Club, seven journalists were manhandled and heckled.

“Seven journalists were hackled and manhandled by Chamisa's violent security youths. These include ZBC Midlands Bureau Chief Tafara Chikumira who had his shirt tone and accused of reporting lies at ZBC, Evidence Chipadza from the Mirror who was verbally assaulted after producing his ZMC Press card. The other journalists who were abused cited being shouted at and being pushed despite having identified themselves, this conduct is not in sync with what the MDC party claims to preach,” reads part of the press release.

This is not the first time Chamisa’s security harassed journalists. MISA once warned Chamisa against such behaviour.

The Gweru Press club complained over the barbaric and harsh treatment that was given to journalists who were covering the MDC alliance rally in Mkoba.

They went on to accuse the Party’s leadership of seeking services of visibly drunk touts to act as their security. 

During the build up to elections in 2018, various journalists were harassed by MDC personnel whilst carrying out their journalistic duties.

MDC Vice Chairperson, Tendai Biti torched a storm when he harassed and heckled journalists calling them obscene and unprintable words.

Such is the environment which journalists find themselves in while carrying out their duties yet on the other side, MDC is complaining that the media is biased.