Zimbabwe: Ruling Party Supporters Attack VOA’s Annahstacia Ndlovu Ahead of Elections
As election campaigning continues, clashes between supporters and press violations may escalate. Journalists have a right to report on political campaigns and should be able to do so without fear of assault.
Location: Zimbabwe, Bulawayo
Date: July 17, 2023
Supporters of political party Zanu PF take Annahstacia Ndlovu’s phone and physically assault her for documenting street skirmishes in the run up to presidential elections on August 23, 2023. The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns the brutal assault on the journalist and demands that the leaders of Zanu PF denounce this attack. The authorities must ensure that journalists in the country are safe and can operate freely to guarantee free and fair elections.
“I identified myself as a journalist, but they insisted that I delete the footage. They forcibly pushed me towards their vehicle, assaulting me as their accomplices fled," said Ndlov, a reporter for Voice of America (VOA).
On July 17, supporters of the ruling party, Zanu PF, injured journalist Annahstacia Ndlovu and deleted her footage. The journalist was reporting on clashes in Bulawayo as Zanu PF members forcibly removed non-party affiliated vendors from the street.
Suspected Zanu PF activists allegedly attacked and vandalized vegetable market vendors for refusing to be transported to the party's rallies by buses.
Since the start of the election campaign in June, the political parties of incumbent Emmerson Mnangagwa from Zanu-PF and opposition leader Nelson Chamisa from the CCC have held rallies nationwide. Zanu-PF has banned certain opposition party rallies, leading to arrests and skirmishes.
“I identified myself as a journalist, but they insisted that I delete the footage. They forcibly pushed me towards their vehicle, assaulting me as their accomplices fled”
Ndlovu and other freelance journalists had responded to a distressed call from informal traders at the Fifth Avenue market in Bulawayo when Zanu PF supporters confronted Ndlovu, demanding she stop recording. Two men grabbed her, took her phone, and slammed her against a truck, injuring her abdomen.
"The attackers referred to me as 'Munhu waChamisa' (a supporter of opposition leader Nelson Chamisa) as they went through my videos and deleted some of them. Unfortunately, I only have one video remaining, which captures the face of one of the assailants," said Ndlovu.
She said her attackers did not destroy her phone, but it fell to the ground during the assault and was damaged.
She estimated over 100 Zanu PF members were at the scene, but only two men physically assaulted her.
Ndlovu has filed a report with the police. A police investigation into the violence against the journalists and street traders is underway.
Zimbabwe Union of Journalists (ZUJ) condemned the attack on Ndlovu deeming the assault a violation of her rights and the constitution. MISA Zimbabwe urged police to charge those responsible.
Worrying moment for press freedom in Zimbabwe
Although Zimbabwe made significant improvements in press freedom after the ousting of Robert Mugabe in 2017, in recent years, this has notably declined. Violence against journalists in Zimbabwe has decreased under President Emmerson Mnangagwa's administration, but it remains high, leading to self-censorship. The police often use excessive force and confiscate equipment, and acts of intimidation and threats are common.
Worryingly, a new law proposed by the current government presents a significant threat to journalists. Press freedom organizations have called on Zimbabwe to abandon its "sovereignty and national interest" law, also known as the Patriot Bill. The law allows for the death penalty or life imprisonment for those deemed to be injuring Zimbabwe's sovereignty. It also imposes lengthy prison sentences for attending meetings discussing armed intervention, government subversion, or sanctions. The bill, which has been passed by parliament and awaits presidential approval, could be used to imprison journalists and violate freedom of expression.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism stands in solidarity with Annahstacia Ndlovu and urges police to identify and arrest those who attacked her. We call on Zimbabwean police to ensure journalists can report safely, especially ahead of the country’s presidential elections in August. When journalists are hampered in covering the election processes, its results could be open to question, undermining the legitimacy and effectiveness of the government. The Coalition For Women In Journalism urges all political parties to condemn any assaults by its supporters on the press to ensure fair and transparent elections.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
If you have been harassed or abused in any way, and please report the incident by using the following form.