Charges filed over studio spat

Zimbabwe's deputy Finance Minister Terrence Mukupe has filed assault charges against NewsDay reporter Blessed Mhlanga, 10 days they were involved in a scuffle. New Zimbabwe reports that the incident occurred at the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation radio studio where they were invited to discuss a report claiming Mukupe said the military wouldn’t let opposition leader Nelson Chamisa rule in the event that he won the forthcoming election. The altercation that followed was filmed on a mobile phone and Mukupe allegedly instructed his aides to seize the instrument. As previously reported in Legalbrief Today, the government has distanced itself from Mukupe’s remarks. Zimbabwe is set to hold a general election by 22 August, the first since the army forced Mugabe to resign.