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ALSO READ – Tamborinyoka apologises to journalist.
BY DR MASIMBA MAVAZA| Safety of journalists is the ability for media professionals to receive, produce and share information without facing physical or moral threats.
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Journalists play a very important role in any democratic society, they disseminate information to humanity they bring to light the hidden issues. Journalist in short are the mouth piece of the nation. They represent the expression and the society has a duty to protect journalists as they ensure the freedom of expression which is a human right. Journalists are a reflection of a healthy democratic society only if they are given a journalistic space.
Journalists can face violence and intimidation for exercising their fundamental right to freedom of expression. The range of threats they are confronted to include murder, kidnapping, hostage-taking, offline and online harassment, intimidation, enforced disappearances, arbitrary detention and torture.
It was then ironic when a Zimbabwean journalist face harassment from those they expect to be the custodians of tolerance. Chamisa’s security assaulted a journalist, while Chamisa was busy talking about tolerance and a political space.
In an embarrassing move which forced the MDC to apologise after its ‘overzealous’ security assaulted journalist in Harare MDC withdrew into their shells after their behaviour left them with egg shells in their devilish faces.
The opposition MDC led by Nelson Chamisa says it apologizes for the assault inflicted by its “overzealous” security on a journalist. In a statement, the party’s deputy spokesperson Luke Tamborinyoka blasted the MDC security personnel for acting in an unprofessional and overzealous manner, saying he has also personally spoken to the assaulted journalist and tendered in the party’s apology. Chamisa completely ignored the journalist and only sent his deputy or his pretence of a spokesperson whom he demoted after Tsvangirai’s death to offer a half hearted apology.
Tamborinyoka had to take to the twitter to write a message apart from the word “apologies” the statement was just a Statement celebrating the demonic actions exhibited by the vanguard. This is what was said by Tamborinyoka, writing on social media: “Dear colleagues. My sincerest apologies over the way Robert Tapfumaneyi has been treated by our overzealous security personnel.” This was simply informing his thugs about the barbaric behaviour of his vanguards and sending a veiled heads up.
The photo journalist from Sly Media was covering Nelson Chamisa’s political address in Mbare when he was attacked, shoved and manhandled by the MDC Security team who dragged him away from the event.
The harassment of journalists is a phenomenon that has prompted growing concern in recent years. Journalists who report on contested social and political issues increasingly find themselves the target of abuse through social media, online comment fora and other online means, in some cases including violent threats of death and rape. In this case Tapfumanei was assaulted punched kicked and threatened with death by the self styled Mashurugwi known in MDC as vanguards. Despite this being done under the nose of Chamisa nothing was done to stop the humiliation and harassment of a journalist in the course of his duties.
To think that this was a party which claims to be defenders of freedom, this was very low even by their standards. While retaliation for the content of professional output is common to all journalists, being jumped at by a party which claims to be democratic is knee shaking and indeed killing.
In some cases, this abuse is seen to form part of an organized campaign led by political or other interest groups to silence critical discussion. But in the case of this journalist the actions was unprovoked.
One of the core values of MDC was to safeguard freedom of expression. This behaviour resembles a dog’s breakfast.
This action has shown that journalists are targeted for harassment, they face severe personal and professional consequences. Worse still, if journalists decide to avoid covering MDC rallies or events which in turn denies audiences’ ability to receive information of public interest MDC will loudly complain of Press blockade.
The risks that harassment pose to the free flow of information and the democratic exchange of ideas demand an urgent response. A multi-pronged approach is essential, given the numerous factors that prompt attacks on journalists.
It is clear that state-led measures are needed to combat harassment as a societal phenomenon. Measures should range from increased media literacy to an overall commitment by political actors to reduce the polarization that feeds the barbaric actions there is a clear need for proper legal remedies, to ensure that aggressors are held accountable for their actions to deter would-be attackers.
This kind of online environment can have a profound “chilling effect” on journalism and can ultimately negatively impact one of the tenets of a democratic society, press freedom. Journalists may avoid reporting or attending certain functions that they know, or suspect, will be met with harassment and abuse. harassment of journalists interferes not only with the media’s right to impart information of public interest, but also with the public’s right to receive such information.
There are many ways in which a journalist can be harassed or abused and some of these methods are not dissimilar to the harassment or abuse that people can experience in the undemocratic world.
MDC are the ones who shed crocodile tears yet they show their unmasked cruelty on the defenceless journalists.
Violence has always been in the DNA of MDC and each gathering bears scars of violence.
It is not new that the leaders of MDC condone violence. Tsvangarai allowed Biti and Mangoma to be assaulted by the youth at harvest house while Tsvangirai shouted batai munhu. Biti had to show his agility by jumping in Tsvangirai’s car. Not to be outdone Chamisa set his youth on Khupe at Tsvangirai’s funeral. Mwonzora had to be saved from the marauding hyenas called the Vanguard.
Sekai and Trudy were badly injured when they were laid upon by the MDC youth from Mabvuku.
This culture of violence in the MDC is so manifested in their leadership.
But as for attacking journalists MDC has reached the lowest level of insanity