The High Court on Thursday denied journalist Hopewell Chin’ono bail reiterating that the Magistrates’ Court had not erred in saying that the award-winning journalist was rightfully arrested. Justice Chitapi also warned Chin’ono’s lawyers (Beatrice Mtetwa) against attacking judges who had ruled against the journalist being granted bail. The judge also observed that Chin’ono’s case needs to be heard by the court that initially denied him bail. ustice Chitapi also noted that Chin’ono had failed to present evidence suggesting that Magistrate Nduna had erred in denying him bail. Reads the ruling in part: The second matter concerns the submissions made on appeal by the appellant’s counsel that the siltation had changed because the de
Opposition MDC Alliance president Nelson Chamisa, accompanied by his lawyer Thabani Mpofu, on Tuesday visited incarcerated journalist Hopewell Chin’ono at Harare Remand Prison. “Clearly we must do something about what is happening. … It is time that we take care of Zimbabwean lives that matter … We must be serious about the situation,” Chamisa said. “They are in high spirits and they really want to see a better country,” Chamisa said. On Tuesday President Emmerson Mnangagwa gave a speech calling the main opposition party “terrorist,” and vowed to flush out opponents in an ongoing clampdown. Scores of opposition members and government critics have been arrested and rights groups allege security forces have carried out illega
The Harare High Court on Monday heard long-delayed bail applications by journalist Hopewell Chin’ono and opposition politician Jacob Ngarivhume, who were arrested on July 20 and accused of inciting public violence. Justice Tawanda Chitapi heard the applications separately and reserved judgement to August 6. Prosecutors say both men incited public violence through social media posts ahead of anti-government protests which had been called for July 31, but their lawyers say the charges are political. The protests were ruthlessly crushed by the security forces who closed all access to towns and forced residents to stay in their homes. Dozens of opposition activists were arrested and some were abducted and tortured. Ngarivhume, through his lawyer Moses Nkomo, disowned the Twit
Before we set out, I made a telephone call to my trusted long-time mentor, friend and lawyer – David Drury. I told him that we were about to go on a peaceful walking protest in the neighbourhood. I told him we had taken every precaution in the book to ensure we were compliant with the law. We wore face masks. We were walking within the permitted radius. We carried sanitizer. We were going to respect social distancing. There were 7 of us. Our actions were peaceful. We had written placards that read “No Violence,” “I am protesting peacefully,” Babies’ Lives Matter,” “Covid Kills, So does corruption,” “FreeZimbabwe,” “I have a dream,” and “EndHunger”. When we were making these placards, we joked
FAMOUS novelist Tsitsi Dangarembga and spokeswoman for the Movement for Democratic Change Alliance Fadzayi Mahere have been released on ZWL$5000 bail. Dangarembga, a colleague Julie Barnes, Mahere and six others who took part in the anti-corruption protest appeared before Harare magistrate Ngoni Nduna. They were charged with contravening section 37(1)(b) of the Criminal Law (Codification & Reform) Act by participating in a gathering with intent to promote public violence, breach of peace or bigotry. They had been arrested in Zimbabwe’s capital on July 31 and subsequently spent the night in prison before appearing in court on Saturday. Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights represented the accused and also secured the bail of Simon Drury, Tinashe Murap
A 42-year-old woman from Christian Farm in Featherstone near Chivhu who allegedly ordered a 14-year-old boy to have s_x with her from the back has appeared in court after she slapped the complainant for failing to satisfy her. Georgina Madoro is charged with aggravated indecent assault. The State led by Audrey Mupini told Chivhu Regional Magistrate Fadzai Mtombeni that Madoro who was fetching firewood dropped the pile which was on her head, bent down to the ground, lifted up her dress and pulled down her pants before ordering the complainant to make love to her from the back. Magistrate Mtombeni postponed the matter for trial to August 20, 2020. It is the State case that on May 8, 2020, at around 11 am the accused was looking for firewood in a bush near the complainant’s hom
ZIMBABWEAN journalist Hopewell Chin’ono and opposition Transform Zimbabwe party leader Jacob Ngarivhume on Wednesday 22 July 2020 appeared before judicial officers at Harare Magistrates Court answering to charges of inciting people to overthrow President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government through unconstitutional means. Chin’ono appeared before Magistrate Ngoni Nduna answering to charges of incitement to commit public violence as defined in 187(1)(a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act as read with section 36(1)(a) of Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act. Chin’ono, who was arrested on Monday 20 July 2020 by Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) members, was also charged with incitement to commit public violence as defined in section 187(1)(b) as r
MDC Alliance shows police the middle finger. MDC Alliance has written a letter to Zimbabwe Republic Police Spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi informing him that its members will not be reporting to the police after an advert was circulated with names of people being hunted for interviews by the law enforcement agent. On Monday Nyathi released a list which includes MDC Alliance and civic society officials. Read MDC’s letter below: We have noted with grave concern a letter published to the public and subsequently a televised publication on the national broadcaster authored by yourself. The publication unscrupulously purports that 14 activists, among them MDC Alliance youth leaders are WANTED for INTERVIEWS by your organisation’s Law and Order Department. For
A Zimbabwean journalist known for exposing alleged government corruption and now accused of plotting against the government is appearing in court on Wednesday. Hopewell Chin’ono is appearing alongside Jacob Ngarivhume, an opposition politician he is accused of conspiring with to mobilize anti-government protests planned for July 31. Both men have been charged with “incitement to participate in a gathering with intent to promote public violence, breaches of peace or bigotry.” Police returned to Chin’ono’s home on Tuesday “to recover a camera which they alleged was used by the journalist to take photos and screenshots which he allegedly posted on Twitter,” said Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, which is representing him. It’s t
HARARE Mayor Councillor Herbert Gomba was on Tuesday arrested on allegations of criminal abuse of office connected with the sale of stands, Zimbolivenews can report. Gomba was picked up by Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission and spent the night in the police cells. He is likely to appear before Harare Magistrates’ Court this morning. Gomba was reportedly involved in the illegal creation and sale of stands, with irregularities in the approval of plans and production of fraudulent layout plans prejudicing the Harare city council of thousands of dollars. His subordinates in council who include Edgar Dzehonye, a senior officer in the housing department, have appeared in court, to answer to charges of criminal abuse of office. Dzehonye was remanded in custody to August 17
