The
incident,
which
saw
Zanu
PF
members
chasing
away
vendors
who
were
not
card-carrying
members
of
the
ruling
party,
left
Ndlovu
and
other
journalists
injured
and
traumatised.
Despite
reporting
the
matter
to
the
police,
the
case
was
closed
last
year
without
arrests,
with
authorities
stating
they
would
reopen
it
once
the
accused
were
identified,
until
Ndlovu
unexpectedly
crossed
paths
with
one
of
her
alleged
attackers
in
the
city
centre.
In
a
dramatic
turn
of
events,
Ndlovu
effected
a
citizen’s
arrest
and
handed
the
suspect
over
to
the
police.
“I
was
on
my
way
to
Tsholotsho
to
cover
farming
stories
when
I
saw
one
of
the
perpetrators
along
the
Registry
Building
opposite
Mhahlandlela
Government
Complex.
I’m
not
sure
if
he
was
accused
number
one
or
two,
but
his
name
is
Garikai
Mukurazita,”
Ndlovu
recounted
in
an
interview
with
CITE.
“He
wanted
to
run
away,
but
I
held
his
hand.
Lucky
enough,
I
don’t
know
how
God
operates.
The
investigating
officer
just
came
from
Mhlahlandlela
Government
Complex
the
same
direction
where
we
were
going.
I
said
to
the
investigating
officer,
‘this
is
the
guy
who
assaulted
me,’
and
he
said,
‘really?’
I
said,
‘yes.’”
Ndlovu’s
ordeal
highlights
the
risks
journalists
face
in
Zimbabwe
and
the
lengths
to
which
they
must
go
to
seek
accountability
in
a
system
often
criticised
for
its
failures.
“It
was
traumatising
to
see
the
perpetrator
again.
It
made
me
relive
the
beating
I
went
through
and
that
of
my
colleagues,”
she
said,
recounting
how
she
and
other
journalists
were
met
with
violence
from
alleged
Zanu
PF
members
when
they
rushed
to
the
Fifth
Avenue
market
to
cover
skirmishes.
Upon
arrival,
Ndlovu
was
assaulted,
and
her
phone
was
damaged
as
she
attempted
to
document
the
incident.
However,
the
case
has
been
marred
by
delays
and
bureaucratic
hurdles,
raising
questions
about
the
efficiency
of
Zimbabwe’s
justice
system
and
the
challenges
faced
by
victims
of
political
violence.
After
taking
Mukurazita
to
Bulawayo
Central
Police
Station,
officers
questioned
him
but
released
him
without
detention.
Ndlovu
only
learned
of
the
court
date
when
the
police
called
her
on
Saturday,
informing
her
that
the
case
was
set
to
be
heard
this
Monday.
At
the
Tredgold
Magistrate
Court,
the
prosecution
raised
concerns
about
the
incomplete
docket,
highlighting
the
absence
of
key
evidence,
including
the
original
video
footage
from
Ndlovu’s
damaged
phone
and
her
medical
reports.
“The
prosecutor
asked
why
the
case
was
coming
to
court
now,
yet
it
happened
in
2023,”
Ndlovu
explained.
“I
had
to
show
her
the
video
of
the
accused
threatening
me
and
asking
me
to
switch
off
my
phone.”
The
prosecution
instructed
the
police
to
extract
the
video
footage
from
Ndlovu’s
phone
and
make
sure
all
necessary
documentation
was
included
in
the
docket
before
the
case
could
proceed.
The
police
said
they
would
proceed
by
way
of
summons.
“I
went
back
to
the
police
in
the
afternoon
and
the
police
said
it’s
not
proper
for
them
to
make
another
statement
because
one
docket
cannot
have
more
than
one
statement
from
the
complainant,”
Ndlovu
said.
“I
have
to
take
my
damaged
phone
to
the
police
for
forensics,
but
I
don’t
know
how
they
will
extract
the
footage
since
the
phone
is
no
longer
functioning
after
they
assaulted
me
and
damaged
it.
Forensics
said
it
will
take
three
days
to
extract
the
videos.
It
means
I
won’t
be
having
my
phone
for
a
period
of
three
days.”
The
journalist
said
she
has
copies
of
the
videos
but
the
police
want
the
original
version.
Ndlovu’s
case
underscores
the
systemic
challenges
faced
by
victims
of
crime
in
Zimbabwe,
particularly
women
and
journalists.
“As
an
empowered
female
journalist
aware
of
my
rights,
it’s
a
challenge
to
access
justice.
Imagine
others
who
are
less
privileged
and
uninformed
about
their
rights,”
she
said.
“Fear
is
another
factor,
as
people
are
afraid
to
report
crimes.
The
police’s
delays
in
arresting
accused
persons
make
you
want
to
give
up.”
The
journalist’s
experience
also
highlights
the
broader
issue
of
impunity
in
Zimbabwe,
where
perpetrators
of
violence
often
evade
accountability
due
to
inefficiencies
in
the
justice
system.
“A
number
of
people
are
going
scot-free
after
committing
crimes,”
Ndlovu
noted.
“This
is
very
common
in
Zimbabwe.
Even
in
my
case,
the
police
know
what
is
supposed
to
be
in
the
docket,
but
we
have
to
keep
going
back
to
make
sure
everything
is
intact.”
Despite
the
frustrations,
Ndlovu
remains
determined
to
see
the
case
through.
“It’s
a
long
process,
and
I
just
have
to
be
patient,”
she
said.
“The
accused
is
denying
that
he
was
at
the
crime
scene,
but
I
recorded
him.
That’s
how
I
was
able
to
identify
him.”
As
she
awaits
the
next
steps
in
her
case,
Ndlovu’s
story
has
become
a
rallying
cry
for
press
freedom
and
accountability
in
Zimbabwe.
“We
hope
the
courts
will
handle
this
case
in
a
fair
way,”
she
said.