All the arrested journalists, Thomas Madhuku, Nyadzashe Ndoro, Leo Munhede, Marshall Bwanya, Gaddaffi Wells, Adrian Maratu, Tongai Mwenje, Tinashe Muringayi and Robert Tapfumaneyi work for local media organizations. 

They were arrested while covering a demonstration organised by the opposition's Movement for Democratic Change-Alliance in Harare, Zimbabwe's capital city, to denounce its exclusion from the 2023 election preparation process. The journalists were released two hours later without charges.

The IFJ affiliate, ZUJ, said in a statement that “[we] find such police action highly unacceptable and were clearly designed at foiling the journalists' coverage of the ZEC proceedings and thus stifling truth, which is fundamental to national development.”

The General Secretary of the IFJ said: “There seems to be no basis for the arrest of our colleagues and their arbitrary detention is a clear attempt to prevent them from doing their job and informing the public. This is blatant intimidation and harassment against journalists who are simply doing their job."