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Zimbabwe Police Arrest Journalists, Opposition Leader Over Anti-Government
Protests

Columbus Mavhunga

   HARARE - Rights groups in Zimbabwe have condemned the arrests of a
   prominent investigative journalist and an opposition leader. Zimbabwean
   police say reporter Hopewell Chin'ono and the leader of the political
   group Transform Zimbabwe, Jacob Ngarivhume, were stoking violence ahead
   of a planned July 31 anti-government protest. Their supporters called
   the arrests a blatant attempt to silence voices against government
   corruption and abuse of power.

   Detective Inspector Morgan Chafa, who arrested Chin'ono, asked
   journalists to leave the premises of Chin'ono's home on Tuesday.

   Police wanted to confiscate all his equipment, which they say he used
   to broadcast calls to "incite public violence" ahead of a planned
   nationwide protest on July 31.

   But Doug Coltart and Beatrice Mtetwa of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human
   Rights did not budge.

   Coltart: "We would want to see the search warrant."

   Chafa: "It's OK, we will show you."

   Mtetwa:"But the warrant sir. We must see the warrant before you come
   in."

   A usually jovial Chin'ono, remained mum and subdued as his legal team
   argued with police. After some time, the police produced the warrant,
   but the lawyers said it only allowed them to confiscate "documents."
   The police eventually left without taking the equipment.

   But Chin'ono remains in police custody, one day after he was arrested
   at his home.

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