Suspected Zanu PF youths assaulted a vendor selling independent newspapers, including the Zimbabwe Independent and the Mail & Guardian, before confiscating the publications at Murehwa Centre at the weekend.
Golden Mutize, an agent for Alpha Media Holdings (AMH) which owns the Zimbabwe Independent, NewsDay and The Standard, said the vendor Teremai Manyore was attacked by the youths who were driving a white Toyota Nadia.
The youths came into Mutize’s shop and seized the newspapers before shredding into pieces some of the publications.
“They came into the shop and asked the vendor why he was selling independent newspapers. They hit him with the newspapers and tore one Mail and Guardian Newspaper and one (Zimbabwe) Independent before leaving with the rest of the newspapers. They left with nine Mail & Guardians, four Financial Gazette newspapers and four Zimbabwe Independent newspapers,” Mutize said. “I proceeded to the police station where I made a report and the CR number is 1475155.”
Manyore narrated his ordeal yesterday. “It happened last night (Saturday) around 9:05pm. The men came in a car and parked outside our shop. Two came in and one remained standing outside. The one in front was in Zanu PF regalia and he accused me of selling pro-MDC papers. He tore the papers and hit me with them in the face before leaving,” Manyore said.
Last year, NewsDay vendors were attacked by suspected Zanu PF youths who were demonstrating against foreign businesses in Harare.
The youths claimed that the popular daily newspaper was anti-government and Zanu PF and the attack resulted in vendors fearing to sell the paper.
AMH chief executive officer Raphael Khumalo blasted the youths, describing the incident as deplorable.
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“It’s disgusting that people should be harassing those who have taken the choice to work instead of engaging in illegal activities. Police are not helping much because one would have expected to have the perpetrators arrested and by not arresting them, they are encouraging others to do the same,” Khumalo said.
