The Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) says it is concerned about the treatment of freelance journalist Hopewell Chin’ono and Jacob Ngarivhume, leader of Transform Zimbabwe, who are currently detained at Chikurubi Maximum Prison. According to the lawyers group, on Saturday ZLHR lawyers Roselyn Hanzi, Beatrice Mtetwa and Moses Nkomo visited their clients, Chin’ono and Ngarivhume at Chikurubi Maximum Prison, where they were moved to from Harare Remand Prison last Friday by Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) officials. In a statement, the ZLHR said Chin’ono and Ngarivhume’s lawyers only came to know of the transfer of their clients late on Friday 7 August 2020 after they learnt from independent sources that the duo had been strip searched, sh
The ZPCS spokesperson Supt Meya Khanyezi has denied ill-treating journalist Hopewell Chin’ono and activist Jacob Ngarivhume. The two were arrested over allegations connected to the July 31 demo. Yesterday lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa complained over how they have been suddenly transferred to the COVID fested Chikurubi maximum and afterwards denied food from outside, as also their re;stoves and friends are blocked from seeing them. There are fears that the two will be poisoned. Khanyezi said the Commissioner General of Prisons is allowed under the country’s laws to transfer or make standing orders without consulting legal representatives of inmates. “The Commissioner General is empowered to make standing orders and it is in terms of these standing orders that certain ca
VICE-PRESIDENT Constantino Chiwenga opted to take over the Health and Child Care portfolio following differences with President Emmerson Mnangagwa over the sacked Obadiah Moyo's successor, it has emerged. Mnangagwa last week announced that he had appointed Chiwenga the new Health minister, sparking speculation on the motives behind the surprise move that has been described as unconstitutional by some legal experts. Lawyers say a VP is not allowed to double up as a minister in terms of the constitution. Insiders told The Standard that Chiwenga wanted Health and Child Care deputy minister John Mangwiro, who is his personal doctor, to take over the ministry, but Mnangagwa did not agree. After the haggling, the VP is said to have volunteered to take over the por
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
