Zimbabwe: Chin’ono granted bail as Sikhala remains in custody

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Zimbabwe: Chin’ono granted bail as Sikhala remains in custody

9:44 CAT | 28 Jan 2021

Zimbabwean journalist Hopwell Chin’ono arrives at the magistrates courts in Harare, Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021. On Friday, Zimbabwe police arrested the prominent journalist for the third time in six months. Chin’ono posted on his Twitter account that police had picked him from his house and said they were charging him with “communicating falsehoods.” (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)

Journalist Hopewell Chin’ono was yesterday granted $20 000 bail at the High Court after spending almost three weeks in detention on charges that he contends have no legal force.

His bail appeal hearing was heard before Judge Justice Davison Foroma who said the magistrate misdirected himself by insinuating that the evidence against Chin’ono was overwhelming.

Chin’ono was denied bail by Harare magistrate Lazini Ncube on the basis that he was likely to commit another offence since he was arrested while on bail for another criminal matter.

“In proving that the State case against appellant was not strong, the defence challenged the witness to produce a copy of the publication, which the witness failed to do,” Justice Foroma said.

He said the bail conditions on his other matter also apply in this matter.

Zimbabwe’s High Court on Wednesday freed on bail journalist Hopewell Chin’ono who had spent nearly three weeks in prison — his third detention in five months.

Chin’ono repeatedly expressed fears of catching COVID-19 in jail due to the overcrowded conditions in Chikurubi prison and charges that his repeated imprisonments are harassment by a government rattled by his social media posts exposing alleged corruption.

A magistrate had initially denied him bail mid-January, saying Chin’ono could commit similar crimes if released, citing two other cases in which, like the current one, the journalist was arrested for items he posted on Twitter. His lawyers appealed to Zimbabwe’s High Court.

In the latest case, Chin’ono was arrested for posting a report that police had killed an infant while enforcing lockdown rules. Police later said the information was false and the baby is alive. Chin’ono faces a fine or up to 20 years in jail if convicted of publishing a false story.

Before the latest arrest, Chin’ono was out on bail on separate charges of inciting violence after he voiced support for an anti-government protest in July and also on contempt of court charges for allegedly claiming corruption within the country’s National Prosecution Agency.

Chin’ono is one of Zimbabwe’s most prominent critics of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration, accusing it of corruption and human rights abuses. The government denies the charges.

Source: AP