Zimbabwean journalist Hopewell Chin’ono has been granted bail after being held in jail for more than a month on charges of inciting violence. Chin’ono’s application for bail was approved by a magistrate who stipulated that while he awaits trial he must not post on social media such as Facebook or Twitter. The charges against Chin’ono stem from the support he expressed on Twitter for an anti-government protest. Chin’ono had previously been denied bail three times and his lawyers say prison authorities forced him to mingle with other prisoners despite showing symptoms “consistent” with COVID-19. He has become ill in prison this week, according to his lawyers who say he is suffering from “a headache, fever and distorted taste,” sy
GOVERNMENT has expressed utter dismay following unwarranted comments by US Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Mr Brian Nichols in which he continues to attack the country’s political and economic programmes in clear violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. Mr Nichols claimed that Zimbabwe was in political turmoil in an interview with The Sunday Times of South Africa, in stark contradiction to the reality obtaining in the country. He also alleged that there was gross violation of human rights in Zimbabwe without substantiating his claims. Government said Mr Nichols’ actions were objectionable and stand in violation of diplomatic missions’ obligations under the Vienna Convention. In a statement yesterday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Tr
Incarcerated journalist Hopewell Chin’ono was Tuesday brought to Rotten Row Magistrates Court without the consent of his doctor who had told the Zimbabwe Prisons Security (ZPS) his client was seriously ill and showing symptoms of Covid-19. Chin’ono appeared before Magistrate Judge Ngoni Nduna who remanded the matter to 14 September. Speaking to the press, Chin’ono’s lawyer Douglas Coltart said the state has been told to make sure that a trial date should be there by September 14 otherwise Chin’ono would apply against being put on remand for too long. “Hopewell had been brought to Court against the advice of his doctor who spoke with the prison authorities yesterday given his condition and symptoms he was showing that it was ill advisable for him to
BAIL hearing for jailed MDC Alliance vice chair, Job Sikhala continued Tuesday with the firebrand politician taking to the witness’s stand before a Harare magistrate to deny both being violent and fugitive from justice. Sikhala is facing charges of inciting the public to commit violence. Said the opposition legislator in court, “The struggle for social justice has never been fought on the plane of violence and the State should not invite me to a territory which I’m not part of.” Sikhala told court he was a good bail candidate insisting he was once granted bail on subversion charges and never defaulted. The lawmaker said he never defaulted bail in any of the past 64 cases that have been brought against him by the state. Contrary to police allegations tha
THE battle to replace recalled Harare mayor Herbert Gomba has emerged between fierce rivals Thokozani Khupe and Nelson Chamisa. Gomba was recalled from council early this month by the Khupe-led MDC-T, which claimed he was no longer a member of the party. The embattled former mayor elected on MDC Alliance ticket 2018 also lost his post as a councillor for Ward 27 in Glen Norah. He is also facing corruption charges and was recently arrested and is currently out on bail after spending days in remand prison. However, according to sources in both MDC Alliance and MDC-T, there is a fierce fight pitting the parties as both selected their candidates to contest for the post. The MDC-T preferred candidate Luckson Mukunguma, and the MDC Alliance’s The MDC-T preferred cand
Three MDC Alliance (MDC-A) councillors have dumped the Nelson Chamisa-led MDC Alliance and joined the MDC-T led by Thokozani Khupe. The development was confirmed by MDC-T secretary for women’s assembly in Mbizo district, Rita Munyorovi-Svova. Munyorovi-Svova revealed that the councillors are from Ward 2, 11 and 12. She said: They all belong to MDC-T. In fact, they must not make the mistake of following an individual (Nelson Chamisa) but should follow the party (MDC-T). People should read and understand the constitution of the MDC-T. Meanwhile, MDC-A Midlands secretary for information Takavafira Zhou said it is the democratic right of the three councillors to decide on whomever they want to associate with. Said Zhou: In politics, there is freedom of association and disasso
Zimbabwe opposition party, Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) said that it was forced to call off a planned demonstration at Beitbridge Border Post after it failed to secure permission from the South African government. The opposition party had planned to “blockade” the border between Zimbabwe and South Africa on 31 August in protest over the crackdown on human rights defenders and journalists in Zimbabwe by President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government. EFF president Innocent Ndibali told NewZimbabwe.com that his party had to cancel the planned demonstration after Pretoria did not give the green light for the event to go ahead. He said: Due to multiple factors beyond our control, EFF Zimbabwe has with difficulty and sadness seen it necessary to call off the planned prote
Doug Coltart Gives An Update On Hopewell Chin’ono’s Condition He Could Have Covid-19 Lawyer Douglas Colart is seen in the following video confirming that journalist Hopewell Chin’ono is indeed not well At Chikurubi Maximum Prison and he has been attended to by his private doctor. Colart further claimed that Chin’ono has the following symptoms, headache, fever, body aches and distorted taste which are all consistent with the symptoms of the infamous COVID-19. Coltart also said 6 prisoners who are in opposition party leader Jacob Ngarivhume’s cell tested positive for COVID-19 and the issue of overcrowding in prisons was posing a huge risk to all the people currently imprisoned at the Prison. The jailed journalist, Hopewell Chinono has been tested
MDC Alliance Gwanda Mayor Jastone Mazhale and his entire Council have defected from the Nelson Chamisa led entity to join the Thokozani Khupe led MDC-T. The councilors met with MDC-T Acting National Spokesperson Leader Khaliphani Phugeni on Sunday where they pledged their full loyalty to the party and expressed their desire to work very hard in mobilizing for a landslide victory in 2023. Read the MDC-T minutes below: The MDC-T Acting National Spokesperson Leader Khaliphani Phugeni today (30/08/2020) met with Gwanda Municipality councilors in his capacity as the Standing Committee deployee to Matebeleland South Province. The meeting was also attended by the Mat South PR legislator Hon Lindiwe Maphosa and Provincial leaders. The councilors were led by His Worship the Mayor, Cllr Jasto
MDC Alliance Secretary General Chalton Hwende has been asked to surrender his diplomatic passport after MDC T recalled him from parliament. The matter came to light on Twitter after Zanu PF posted the following letter to Hwende from the parliament clerk: Dear Mr Hwende RE: RETRIEVAL OF DIPLOMATIC PASSPORT As you maybe aware, His Excellency President Emmerson Mnangagwa gracefully extended the facility for all Members of Parliament to hold Diplomatic Passports in September 2019. You may recall. conditions for use of the document were linked to the tenure of the current Parliament inclusive of you being a serving Member of Parliament of Zimbabwe. Following your recall from Parliament, in accordance with Section in (to) of the Constitution at Zimbabwe, you are, therefore, kindl
