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Zimbabwe Accused of Stiffling Press Freedom as Journalist Denied Bail Again

Columbus Mavhunga

   HARARE - Rights groups in Zimbabwe havedenounced theHigh Court
   denyingbailtojournalist HopewellChin'ono,who is facingcharges of
   stoking violencein advanceofplanned anti-government protests. Security
   forces thwarted the July 31protests againstcorruption and
   poverty,arrestingChin'onoand an opposition leader.'¯ South Africa
   issendingenvoys to Zimbabwe to investigate reports of escalating
   rightsabuses,which the government denies.

   Supporters of Chin'onofear his continued detention is a way for
   authorities to silencecriticalreportingagainst corruption.

   "It'saclear indication that Zimbabweanauthorities are not prepared to
   have journalists who will expose government corruption and
   speakingtruth to power," Robert Shivambu, Amnesty International's
   spokesman inSouthernAfrica told VOA. "The government of Zimbabwe should
   stop intimidatingjournalists like HopewellChin'onoand allow them to be
   able to do their job to expose corruption because this is good for the
   country,in fact,so that law enforcement agencies can be able to follow
   up what journalists like Hopewell are reporting-not criminalizing for
   exposing that."

   Zimbabwe's High Court Thursday afternoon ruled againstChin'ono'sappeal
   forbail.

   He'sbeen detained for three weeks oncharges of stoking violence ahead
   ofa planned protest last week thatsecurity forces stopped before it
   could begin.

   Chin'onoisan outspoken critic of corruption, which theprotest was to be
   against-- along withthe government'shandling of Zimbabwe's imploding
   economy.

   Speaking to reporters afterChin'onowas denied bail,ZimbabweLawyers for
   Human Rights' Beatrice Mtetwasaid itwas clearthatauthoritieswant to
   silencecritical voices.

   "I think everybody knows what happens in Zimbabwe: those who say they
   are fighting for corruption'¯are walking in the streets with their
   corrupt loot in the pocket and those saying you should be seen to
   be'¯fighting corruption are getting more and more persecuted," she
   said.

   Opposition'¯politician JacobNgarivhumewasarrested on the same
   chargesasChin'onoand alsoremains in prison.

   Meanwhile,Zimbabwe authoritieshavereleased a "wanted list"of activists,
   andmore than a dozenhave gone into hiding.

   Government spokesmanNickMangwanarejected the idea that
   authoritiesaretargetingactivistsorjournalists.

   "There is a journalist who happens to be an'¯activist, whose actions
   may cross the boundaries of the law.They are not immune from
   prosecution, if they do that," he said. "If they incite and there is a
   law against incitement, the fact that they are a journalist does not
   give them immunity from that prosecution.That's the difference.So,
   every other journalist who goes doing their business there is no
   problem.There is even no problem being an activist itself.But within
   the contest of breaking the law, the law will take its course."

   South African President CyrilRamaphosa, the current chairperson of the
   Africa Union, has appointed special envoys to Zimbabwe to investigate
   the accusations.

   Head of Human Rights Watch inSouthern AfricaDewaMavhingasaysmore is
   needed.

   "We are calling for the Southern African Development Community'¯and the
   African Union to urgently speak out on the abuses in Zimbabwe and urge
   President Mnangagwa to endrepression andtopromote human rights
   respect.'¯ Human rights in Zimbabwe should be guaranteed and should be
   respected," Mavhinga said.

   CriticsaccuseZimbabwe President EmmersonMnangagwa of
   rulingthecountrywith an iron fist,'¯muchlike formerPresident Robert
   Mugabe.'¯'¯

   After Mugabe was removed'¯ina2017coup,'¯Mnangagwa'¯vowed Zimbabwe would
   no longer bethe'¯dictatorship of his predecessor.'¯

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