The Media Institute of Southern Africa (Misa) (Zimbabwe Chapter) has written to President Robert Mugabe and the Sadc facilitation team, complaining over the assault of two journalists, Aaron Ufumeli of NewsDay and Financial Gazzette’s Levi Mukarati, at Parliament Building last week.
In a letter addressed to Speaker of the House of Assembly, Lovemore Moyo, Misa-Zimbabwe said the assault was unjustified and a violation of Article 18 of the Global Political Agreement.
The letter was also copied to Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, his deputy Arthur Mutambara and co-ministers of Home Affairs, Kembo Mohadi and Theresa Makone.
“What is most disturbing about this incident is the fact that the assaults and harassment of journalists occurred at the Parliament of Zimbabwe, which is supposed to be a high security zone.
We humbly submit that the culprits should not be allowed to go scot free as that gives them free reign and endangers the lives of journalists, especially those working for the private press,” read part of the letter.
The journalists were allegedly assaulted while covering the Human Rights Commission Bill’s public hearings last Saturday.
The hearings have turned nasty, as similar disturbances have been reported in Masvingo and Mutare.
