Reporter alleges security personnel linked to Wicknell Chivhayo’s brother attacked him after a dispute over media clearance.
Journalist Toneo Toneo says he was assaulted on Thursday, 8 October, while covering the funeral of the Chivhayo family’s loved ones. He alleges the attackers were three men working as security personnel for Joachim Chivhayo, who calls himself “G6” and is a brother of businessman Wicknell Chivhayo.
Toneo says he sustained loosened lower teeth, a swollen eye and severe jaw pain. He has filed a report at Highlands Police Station under reference RRB 6847154 and says he is pursuing the matter as a criminal case with legal counsel.
The account below comes from Toneo’s media statement. Techunzipped has independently verified it.
Toneo says he and his crew arrived at the Chivhayo residence for routine coverage and asked family spokesperson Herbert Chivhayo for a funeral update. Herbert reportedly suggested addressing journalists from all media houses instead.
Toneo says he contacted colleagues from The Herald, ZBC, Owen Madondo (known as DJ Ollah) and two other reporters. While his crew was setting up, he says DJ Ollah called him aside and led him to G6.
According to the statement, G6 ordered him to put his cameras down, saying he had not cleared him for coverage. Toneo says he told G6 he had been on the story since the crash scene, where he gave live updates from midnight until early morning, and had covered the residence extensively in previous days. He says G6 insisted the crew stop recording.
Toneo says he then told Herbert Chivhayo he would not join the press conference because he had been stopped. Herbert reportedly replied that, as the father, all authority and clearance came from him, that the press conference should go ahead without interference, and that no media should be stopped or disturbed. The press conference went ahead, and the crew left for the funeral parlour in town to collect the bodies.
The alleged attack
On the return journey along Gletwin Road, Toneo says his crew was recording and broadcasting live near the hearse when G6 shouted from his vehicle: “So you guys mune nharo ka imi, I want to show you something.”
The crew slowed down and stopped filming. A white SUV driven by G6’s security personnel then allegedly blocked them. Toneo says three men got out and attacked him as he sat in the driver’s seat, using clenched fists and open-handed slaps for less than 20 seconds before driving off. He says everyone in the convoy behind the hearse witnessed it.
Toneo says he had a “mutually respectful and good working relationship” with DJ Ollah until the incident.
Call for accountability
Toneo said he remains committed to respecting reasonable, lawful arrangements families make during bereavement, but that such circumstances “must never be used to justify violence against members of the media.” He called on authorities to investigate thoroughly and hold those responsible accountable “if identified through due process.”
“Journalism is not a crime,” he said, “and no journalist should be physically attacked or intimidated for documenting events and reporting matters of public interest.”
Right of reply
At the time of publication, Techunzipped had not received comment from Joachim “G6” Chivhayo, Herbert Chivhayo, Owen Madondo or the Zimbabwe Republic Police. The allegations remain unproven, and we will update this article as responses and the police investigation progress.
Techunzipped invites all parties named in this report to respond.
