News / National
Local Paper's Vendors Attacked - HARARE
08 Feb 2011 at 12:34hrs | Views
NewsDay reports that on Monday some of their newspaper vendors were attacked by suspected Zanu PF youths demonstrating against foreign businesspeople in Harare.
The youths tore copies of the popular daily newspaper saying it was anti-government and anti-Zanu PF.
One of the affected vendors, Perfect Manatsa, who operates between Julius Nyerere Way and Kenneth Kaunda Avenue, said the youths confiscated 80 copies of NewsDay.
"They did not assault me, but some of the vendors were beaten up before their newspapers were taken. The youths were very violent," he said.
As a result of the attack, scores of vendors stopped selling copies of the newspaper while others did so in hiding.
Alpha Media Holdings chief executive Raphael Khumalo condemned the attack saying it was perpetrated by misguided youths still living in the past.
"They do not know that things have moved on," Khumalo said, "that NewsDay has been licensed and obviously we have a big responsibility to inform them that we are living in the 21st Century and we have the GPA (Global Political Agreement).
They need help and the next message is to the leaders, they have a responsibility to lead youths in the right direction and not into destruction.This is making Zanu PF look bad."
The Voluntary Media Council of Zimbabwe (VMCZ) also condemned the attack saying: "The VMCZ notes with serious concern that this unwarranted intimidation of NewsDay vendors is undemocratic and inimical to freedom of expression. It is our considered view that where citizens are against contents of a publication, or a media house, they should seek recourse through the Media Complaints Committee under the auspices of VMCZ.
"VMCZ therefore urges those that are behind today's barbaric actions to refrain from destroying newspapers and harassing vendors who are going about their daily duties but should instead allow the free flow of information in the country."
VMCZ said Article 19 of the GPA recognises the importance of the right to freedom of expression and the role played by a free media in a multi-party democracy.
"It is therefore important that newspaper vendors, journalists and media publishing houses be allowed to continue their professional duties without any hindrance," the organisation said.
VMCZ urged the police to investigate incidents of violence and bring the perpetrators to justice.
VMCZ called on all political parties to urge their supporters to refrain from attacking newspaper vendors and destroying newspapers as this infringed on freedom of expression and denied Zimbabweans an opportunity to have multiple sources of information.
The youths tore copies of the popular daily newspaper saying it was anti-government and anti-Zanu PF.
One of the affected vendors, Perfect Manatsa, who operates between Julius Nyerere Way and Kenneth Kaunda Avenue, said the youths confiscated 80 copies of NewsDay.
"They did not assault me, but some of the vendors were beaten up before their newspapers were taken. The youths were very violent," he said.
As a result of the attack, scores of vendors stopped selling copies of the newspaper while others did so in hiding.
Alpha Media Holdings chief executive Raphael Khumalo condemned the attack saying it was perpetrated by misguided youths still living in the past.
"They do not know that things have moved on," Khumalo said, "that NewsDay has been licensed and obviously we have a big responsibility to inform them that we are living in the 21st Century and we have the GPA (Global Political Agreement).
They need help and the next message is to the leaders, they have a responsibility to lead youths in the right direction and not into destruction.This is making Zanu PF look bad."
The Voluntary Media Council of Zimbabwe (VMCZ) also condemned the attack saying: "The VMCZ notes with serious concern that this unwarranted intimidation of NewsDay vendors is undemocratic and inimical to freedom of expression. It is our considered view that where citizens are against contents of a publication, or a media house, they should seek recourse through the Media Complaints Committee under the auspices of VMCZ.
"VMCZ therefore urges those that are behind today's barbaric actions to refrain from destroying newspapers and harassing vendors who are going about their daily duties but should instead allow the free flow of information in the country."
VMCZ said Article 19 of the GPA recognises the importance of the right to freedom of expression and the role played by a free media in a multi-party democracy.
"It is therefore important that newspaper vendors, journalists and media publishing houses be allowed to continue their professional duties without any hindrance," the organisation said.
VMCZ urged the police to investigate incidents of violence and bring the perpetrators to justice.
VMCZ called on all political parties to urge their supporters to refrain from attacking newspaper vendors and destroying newspapers as this infringed on freedom of expression and denied Zimbabweans an opportunity to have multiple sources of information.
Source - NewsDay
