By Own Correspondent| Police in Harare manhandled and assaulted a journalist who was covering the Free Zimbabwe protest Friday morning.

Fani Talkmore Mapfumo, a reporter for ZimMorning Post was manhandled and thoroughly beaten by riot police despite a visible tag indicating that he was a journalist.

The publication has since taken the matter up and written to the ZRP calling for justice.

We publish below the full text by ZimMorning Post:

To the National police spokesman Paul Nyathi

It is sad that we write to inform you that some overzealous police officers assaulted our journalist Fani Talkmore Mapfumo, who was carrying out his duties on Friday 16 August 2019.

The assault on journalists is becoming a permanent feature and a modus operandi of your police force especially during demonstrations and protests.

This untoward behaviour is in sharp contrast to the government of Zimbabwe’s reform agenda mantra.

While your officers are mandated to maintain peace and order during demonstrations, our journalists are also mandated to play their role and record the events as they unfold.

It is, therefore, sad to see your officers abusing their office and harass the media. We are in possession of a video recording which shows how the officers manhandled and assaulted the reporter and we will not hesitated to provide it to you so that this issue is investigated and the culprit is brought to book.