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Journalists’ representative bodies and human rights organisations condemned yesterday’s attack on a ZBC employee by members of a Johanne Masowe eChishanu sect at a shrine in Budiriro, Harare.Violence erupted at the shrine when Apostolic Christian Council of Zimbabwe president Bishop Johannes Ndanga visited the place to announce the banning of the sect over alleged human rights abuses.
Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation camera person Relax Mafurutu sustained four fractures on both hands after being attacked with stones and knobkerries by members of the Ishmael Mufani-led sect.
He was taken to Harare Central Hospital before being transferred to West End Clinic last night.
Other journalists took refuge at Budiriro 2 Police Station.
Several police officers and ACCZ provincial chairperson Lameck Chitope were injured in the skirmishes and were also receiving treatment at Harare Central Hospital.
Mafurutu had difficulties narrating his ordeal as he was in great pain when our Harare Bureau visited him at Harare Central Hospital.
“I could not defend myself as more than six people were all over me with knobkerries and stones,” he said. “They did not give me the chance to explain who I was and I regained consciousness after some time, to realise that I was badly hurt.”
Zimbabwe Union of Journalists president Michael Chideme said appropriate action should be taken against sect members.
“That is why we have always wanted the safety of journalists to be guaranteed in the Constitution,” he said. “We urge the law enforcement agents to take appropriate action against those sect members who attacked innocent people.
“The sect should also come out in the open and condemn violence as well as publicly apologise for their actions.”
Zimbabwe National Editors’ Forum secretary-general Barnabas Thondhlana added: “We condemn the attacks on the journalists carrying out their duties. People have to realise that journalists have no attachments to any persons or organisations, but they simply follow where the story is. We expect police to crack down on the attackers.”
There were reports of women and children’s abuse at the sect.
Msasa Project director Netty Musanhu said, “We have a new Constitution that firmly points out that their rights should be upheld. Our worry is that this is happening in our backyard, Budiriro.”
Members of the sect hold several unconventional beliefs, including that they would go to Canaan after death, with Canaan being somewhere in Mozambique.
Online Reporter