ZANU PF officials on Saturday took turns to verbally attack journalists for reporting on a possible coronavirus case in Chiredzi recently.
Journalists had reported the case of a 30-year-old woman from Mkwasine Estates who reportedly arrived at Chiredzi District Hospital on Tuesday suffering from respiratory problems and died the following day.
Nurses at the hospital refused to handle the body, saying they did not have protective clothing.
Chiredzi North MP Roy Bhila (Zanu PF) argued that journalists should not be allowed to report on the disease because they will “mislead” members of the public. Said Bhila:
We have lost trust in these journalists. They are writing that we have a suspected COVID-19 case here in Chiredzi. Why should they be allowed to come here? If they cannot write, they should not come here. People are now living in fear.
Masvingo Provincial Affairs minister Ezra Chadzamira, who is also Zanu PF provincial chairperson, urged reporters to approach officials for information so that they would be told what to write.
Meanwhile, Media Institute for Southern Africa (Misa) Zimbabwe national chairperson Golden Maunganidze called on government officials and politicians to allow the media to do its work.
