Media violations

Samuel Takawira of 263Chat was assaulted by anti-riot police at the Magistrates Court in Harare on 6 April 2021 as they dispersed people from the court premises.

Masvingo freelance journalists Godfrey Mtimba and Tonderai Saharo were on 24 February 2021 reportedly barred by the police from covering the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccination programme at Mushagashe Training Centre.

Five journalists were detained by members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police on 19 February 2021 for over five hours at Spring Farm in Karoi, owned by Norton legislator, Temba Mliswa.

Journalist Hopewell Chin’ono was on 27 January 2021 granted bail by High Court judge Justice Foroma following his arrest and detention at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison on charges of publishing or communicating falsehoods prejudicial to the State.

A group of 10 Malawi police officers on 22 January 2021 allegedly assaulted an investigative journalist, Henry Mhango, while he was reporting on compliance with COVID-19 regulations.

Journalist Michael Magoronga was on 25 January 2021 arrested by police in the Midlands town of Kwekwe who accused him of using an expired Zimbabwe Media Commission-issued accreditation card.

Justice Daviso Foroma reserved ruling in the bail appeal by detained journalist Hopewell Chin’ono who appeared before the High Court of Zimbabwe earlier today. The judge gave no return date on when he is likely to give the judgement.

Detained journalist Hopewell Chi’nono was on 14 January 2021 denied bail by Harare magistrate Lazini Ncube.

Harare magistrate Lazini Ncube on 13 January 2021 reserved ruling on bail to tomorrow after hearing bail submissions by both the defence and the prosecution in the matter of detained journalist Hopewell Chin’ono.