Harare— A local journalist was assaulted by security personnel allegedly dispatched by a brother of the late businessman Wicknell Chivayo during the funeral coverage of the procession, according to a media statement released Wednesday.

The journalist, Toneo Toneo, Editor-in-Chief of TechMagTv, filed a police report at Highlands Police Station under reference number RRB 6847154 following the incident, which occurred on Tuesday, October 8, 2025, along Gletwin Road.

According to the statement, the altercation began at the Chivayo residence where Toneo and his crew had arrived for media coverage. Toneo had arranged a press conference with family spokesperson Herbert Chivayo, who requested that journalists from all media houses be addressed rather than granting a single interview.

Toneo contacted colleagues from The Herald, ZBC, and fellow journalist Owen Madondo, known as DJ Ollah, along with two other journalists. While the crew was setting up, DJ Ollah reportedly called Toneo aside and led him to a man identified as “G6” (Joachim), a brother to the late Wicknell Chivayo.

“G6 immediately began berating me, ordering me to put my cameras down and stating that he had not cleared me for coverage,” the statement read.

Toneo said he explained his ongoing coverage of the story since the crash scene, but G6 insisted the crew stop recording. When Toneo reported the interference to Herbert Chivayo, the family spokesperson asserted his authority as the father and directed that the press conference proceed without interference.

After the press conference, the media team proceeded to a funeral parlour to collect the bodies. On their return along Gletwin Road, while recording live close to the hearse, G6 allegedly shouted from his vehicle: “So you guys mune nharo ka imi, I want to show you something.”

A white SUV driven by security personnel then blocked their vehicle. Three men emerged and attacked Toneo as he sat in the driver’s seat, striking him with clenched fists and open-handed slaps for approximately 20 seconds before fleeing the scene.

The assault was witnessed by individuals in the convoy traveling behind the hearse, according to the statement.

Toneo sustained injuries including loosened lower teeth, a swollen eye, and severe jaw pain. He has engaged legal counsel and is pursuing the matter as a criminal assault case.

“I have had a mutually respectful and good working relationship with my brother Ollah, up until what happened yesterday,” Toneo said in the statement, referring to DJ Ollah.

Toneo called on authorities to investigate the incident thoroughly and hold those responsible accountable through due process.

“Journalism is not a crime, and no journalist should be physically attacked or intimidated for documenting events and reporting matters of public interest,” the statement read. “While we remain committed to conducting ourselves professionally and respecting reasonable, lawful arrangements made by families during times of bereavement, such circumstances must never be used to justify violence against members of the media.”

The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Zimbabwe chapter has consistently documented attacks on journalists in the country, noting that such incidents undermine press freedom and the public’s right to information.

Police officials at Highlands Police Station could not immediately be reached for comment on the investigation’s status.

TechMagTv said it would continue its coverage despite the attack.

“We will soldier on to keep telling you the story,” Toneo stated.