Alpha Media Holdings (AMH) charged for insulting the President
What happened
Alpha Media Holdings (AMH) has reportedly been charged with undermining the authority of or insulting the President through a recent Muckraker column published by its weekly Zimbabwe Independent newspaper.
According to the NewsDay edition of 10 July 2025, detectives from Harare Central Police Station’s Law and Order Section, recorded a statement from Kholwani Nyathi, editor-in-chief of AMH.
Lawyer Chris Mhike, who accompanied Nyathi to the police station, is quoted saying:
“The initial court appearance of the company’s representative in these fresh legal proceedings has been scheduled for the morning of Thursday July 10, 2025, or soon thereafter.
“The company denies all allegations levelled against it by the State and details of the denial shall be traversed at the forthcoming court session.”
Background
This comes after Faith Zaba, editor of the Zimbabwe Independent, was on 4 July 2025 granted bail by Harare magistrate Vakayi Chikwekwe after spending three nights in custody on charges of allegedly undermining the authority of or insulting the President.
The charge relates to a satirical article published in the weekly newspaper’s Muckraker column.
Share this
SOS journalists hotline
If you are injured, detained or arrested ín the line of duty, call our 24/7 SOS journalist hotline on 0784 437 338 to access legal and/or medical assistance.
Don’t forget to have the number saved in your phone for emergencies!
Find out more about the hotline here.
About MISA
The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) was founded in 1992. Its work focuses on promoting, and advocating for, the unhindered enjoyment of freedom of expression, access to information and a free, independent, diverse and pluralistic media.
Latest media violations
Alpha Media Holdings (AMH)
Zimbabwe Republic Police
State, Quasi-state
Harare