Zimbabwe: RSF Presses Police to Spare No Effort in Solving the Murder of Investigative Journalist Watson Flexy Munyaka

Investigative journalist Watson Flexy Munyaka died on 17 March. He was brutally thrown from a moving car. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemns this murder. They urge Zimbabwean authorities to ensure a thorough investigation.

Munyaka's death marks unprecedented violence against journalists in Marondera. His body was found in a central neighborhood of the city, southeast of Harare. He had been violently thrown from a moving 4x4 vehicle during daylight hours. After being taken to the hospital, he was pronounced dead.

Watson Flexy Munyaka co-founded Dug Up, an independent investigative journalism collective. This group launched in September 2024 to investigate corruption and crime in Zimbabwe. "Watson was our man on the ground," said Maynard Manyowa, senior producer at Dug Up. A few days before his death, they published a report on ZANU-PF and posted videos about internal tensions on YouTube.

Police opened an investigation on 17 March into the circumstances of his murder. Munyaka investigated sensitive cases like corruption and drug trafficking. His murder highlights the violent climate faced by journalists in Zimbabwe. RSF urges police to uncover the truth and bring those responsible to justice, according to Sadibou Marong, Director of RSF Sub-Saharan Africa.