Zim Elections: Journalists Forced Out Of MDC Alliance’s Media Briefing!

On Friday afternoon, journalists were obliged to pack up and leave the venue where Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) Alliance leader, Nelson Chamisa, was scheduled to hold his press briefing.

On Wednesday, the opposition’s cries of foul resulted in troops opening fire on protesters, killing six in Harare, Zimbabwe.

After the news broke of Emmerson Mnangagwa’s victory, having received 50.8% of the vote, Chamisa was expected to react to the announcement.

Zim Elections: Journalists Forced Out Of MDC Alliance’s Media Briefing!

According to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, Chamisa received 44,3% of the vote. The opposition leader has called the outcome “unverified fake results”.

Confusion as media forced out of MDC Alliance media briefing

While journalists were setting up their equipment ahead of Chamisa’s briefing, they were suddenly forced out.

Reports claim police entered the Bronte Hotel, in Harare, with tear gas and banging their shields while shouting: “leave, leave, leave”.


However, after a few minutes, a senior officer informed journalists that they could return to the briefing venue without offering any explanation for what had occurred.
MDC Alliance’s cries of intimidation may have gone unheard
More than anything, this seemed like a deliberate move to delay the briefing.

According to an MDC Alliance rep though, the police may have been under the impression that the opposition party was gathering in contravention of the law.

Zim Elections: Journalists Forced Out Of MDC Alliance’s Media Briefing!

It is only after they had realised that it was a media briefing that they allowed the media back in to continue with the briefing.

Morgan Komichi, the Chairman of the MDC Alliance, is one of many of the opposition that has accused Mnangagwa of using these kinds of intimidation tactics to win this election unlawfully.

Zim Elections: Journalists Forced Out Of MDC Alliance’s Media Briefing!

However, the election has been observed by the international environment and have praised the country for conducting itself professionally this time around. No further information has been released to support any of these allegations.