While the reduction of media violations in 2021 is progressive, journalists still faced challenges while conducting their lawful professional duties. For instance, Masvingo freelance journalists Godfrey Mtimba and Tonderai Saharo were on 24 February 2021 reportedly barred by the police from covering the rollout of the Covid-19 vaccination programme at Mushagashe Training Centre. According to Mtimba, the police barred them from covering the event at the instigation of the sister-in-charge who was leading the medical team at the training centre, about 30km outside Zimbabwe’s southern town of Masvingo. The sister-in-charge, who reportedly refused to identify herself, told the journalists that she had not received authorisation from her superiors to entertain or allow the presence of media practitioners. Journalist Nyashadzashe Ndoro, on 6 September 2021, reported that he had filed a report with the police following his alleged assault over a story on alleged corruption at the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA). Ndoro was allegedly assaulted on 4 September 2021 in Harare’s high-density suburb of Mbare by assailants who demanded to know the sources of the story which was published by Nehanda Radio. Ndoro reportedly lost his mobile phone during the assault. The report of his assault was reportedly filed with the police as RRB 4664963. On 4 September 2021, journalist Gilbert Munetsi, was arrested and detained overnight at St Mary’s Police Station in Chitungwiza on allegations of violating the Covid-19 curfew measures. MISA Zimbabwe deployed a lawyer to attend to the matter leading to the release of Munetsi into the lawyer’s custody on 5 September 2021. Munetsi was asked to appear at the police station on 6 September 2021 for purposes of recording his warned and cautioned statement. He denied the allegations on the grounds that he was coming from work at the time of his arrest. 13