Firebrand Julius Malema should apologise to two Zimbabwean reporters who were allegedly harassed by his bodyguards, journalists from that country said on Tuesday.

“The behaviour by Malema’s aides is not only appalling but unfitting of visiting foreign nationals,” the Zimbabwe Chapter of the Media Institute of Southern Africa (Misa-Zimbabwe) said in a statement.

It said it was surprised at the guards’ behaviour.

Zimbabwe Daily News reporters Bethule Nkiwane and Tendai Kamhungira were allegedly manhandled by the expelled ANC Youth League leader’s guards in Harare on Sunday.

The journalists were seeking to interview Malema about his alleged links to Zimbabwe’s Zanu-PF party, and about money laundering charges he was facing.

The newspaper’s editor Stanley Gama said the reporters were told Malema had agreed to an interview beforehand.

“He appeared interested in talking to my colleagues. But after that his goons pushed him aside and told our reporters to go to hell,” Gama said.