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Zimbabwe: Editors Barred From MDC Rally
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The Zimbabwe Guardian (London)
20 May 2008
Posted to the web 20 May 2008
Dyke Sithole
Chronicle reporter Kennedy Mavhumashava and Zimbabwe Guardian chief reporter Dyke Sithole were yesterday barred from covering an MDC rally at White City stadium in Bulawayo by overzealous party youths who threatened to assault the two journalists.
Trouble started when the youths realized that Mavhumashava was from the Chronicle and started hurling insults at him and Sithole who was accompanying him.
"We do not want Chronicle people here. You are not invited. You have been writing bad things about our party and you think we are happy. After June 27 all of you will be jobless," said one of the party officials who claimed to have been assigned to deal with security issues at the function.
Sithole tried to explain to the official that he was not an employee of the Chronicle, but the official who was hostile refused to listen and ordered two party youths to escort the two journalists out of the stadium and threatened to 'deal' with the two journalists if they stay put at the venue of the rally.
While outside, Sithole approached one party official whom he knew and the official immediately escorted him back into the stadium saying what the youths had done was unacceptable to the party.
"We apologize to you for what has happened. This harassment of journalists should be condemned in the strongest terms. In future we will not allow such a thing to happen," said the official.
Addressing the rally which was attended by thousands of people .MDC Vice President Thokozani Khupe said her party will only participate in the forthcoming presidential re-run after certain conditions were met.
"We want SADC and AU observers to be allowed to assist the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) as well monitor the verification process. We also demand that foreign journalists should be allowed to cover the elections," she said.
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The rally was billed to be addressed by the party's President Morgan Tsvangirai, but party officials claimed that he was busy attending urgent party diplomatic business abroad.
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