Soldiers assault freelance journalist in Zimbabwe

Soldiers have assaulted journalists Munashe Chokodza and Leopold Munhende this evening, 24 June 2020, who were returning home from work. The duo was assaulted with military whips at the Warren Park shopping centre in Harare.

The journalists work for online news sites 263Chat and NewZimbabwe.com respectively.

When the journalists dropped off at the shopping centre, the army was apparently dispersing people from the shopping centre.

They stopped the two and questioned them as to why they were not observing the lockdown regulations.

Both Munhende and Chokodza produced their press cards and explained that they were coming from work, as they are part of the essential service workers.

The soldiers apparently remarked, “You journalists think you are special in this country”, before ordering them to roll on the ground and assaulted the duo. They both sustained injuries in the process.

MISA Zimbabwe Lawyer Chris Mhike is assisting the journalists in reporting the case with the police for them to access medical care.