As the country approaches this year’s general elections, concerns about the safety of media practitioners have resurfaced. The Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Electoral Advisory Council (SEAC) recently engaged with journalists to assess Zimbabwe’s political environment and its preparedness to hold free and fair elections. Chaired by Eswatini’s Judge Ticheme Dlamini, the SEAC delegation conducted a meeting with media workers, during which safety concerns were raised.
Local journalist Mlondolozi Ndlovu noted that journalists are tasked with exposing electoral malpractice. “The security environment ahead of the elections is better than in the past, but we have still experienced assaults by suspected ruling‑party thugs,” he said. Since independence in 1980, Zimbabwe’s elections have been plagued by political violence, and observers predict a recurrence this year. Last year, journalists covering opposition rallies were reportedly attacked by suspected ruling‑party youths, and female journalist Ruvimbo Muchenje was assaulted by security personnel of the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) in Chinhoyi, further heightening safety concerns.
Memory Chere, in her submission to SEAC, argued that neither of the main political protagonists—ZANU‑PF nor CCC—appears willing to protect journalists, leaving media practitioners in a precarious position. “While security concerns are real, it is not solely a ZANU‑PF issue; the safety of journalists should be considered across all political parties,” she said. Chere also highlighted that CCC has at times deliberately barred journalists from its events, citing accusations of bias. She called for engagement with political parties to ensure free access for all media practitioners.
Zimbabwe is expected to hold general elections between July and August. Judge Dlamini said his delegation will hold crucial talks with the ruling party, CCC, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, and civil‑society organisations to determine whether the political environment is conducive to elections. “We are here as members of SEAC, and our key responsibility is to advise SADC on electoral issues and to enhance democracy. During this pre‑election assessment mission we aim to evaluate whether the security and political situation allows for free, fair, transparent, and peaceful elections in line with SADC principles and guidelines,” he explained.
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