SANEF calls for release of Zimbabwe journalist Hopewell Chin’ono

Chin’ono has been arrested for the third time in six months and charged with communicating falsehoods.

His lawyer Harrison Nkomo says the latest charges stem from a Twitter post by his client saying a police officer had killed a child strapped to its mother’s back.

Chin’ono tweeted upon his arrest: “They say they are charging me with communicating falsehoods for tweeting that a child had been beaten up and died by a police officer! They are taking me to the Law-and-order section at Harare Central Police Station.”

“Chin’ono was among many Zimbabweans who tweeted about the incident, demanding answers.

In response, the police offered a different version of events in a statement,” says SANEF director Kate Skinner.

“Chin’ono was first arrested in July on charges of inciting violent anti-government protests. He was arrested again in November on charges of obstructing justice.”

 Listen to Kate Skinner below:

The forum also called on the police to stop the relentless intimidation and harassment of Chin’ono.

“Chin’ono is a critic of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s rule. He has a large social media following and has helped expose corruption involving Covid-19 funding.

“SANEF believes that this hostile environment is a direct attack on freedom of expression,” Skinner said.

Meanwhile, SANEF also wants the governing Zanu-PG to step in and discipline its Director of Information and Publicity Tafadzwa Tuboy Mugwadi.

Sanef says he is assaulting media freedom and freedom of expression daily on social media.

“SANEF has sadly noted the blatant sexist and misogynistic vitriol directed from Mugwadi to SABC Foreign Editor Sophie Mokoena in a bid to intimidate, harass and stop her from doing her job of reporting on Zimbabwe and the continent.

“Mugwadi seems to have taken it personally that Mokoena asked tough questions about the whereabouts of Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa amid the coronavirus crisis in the country.”

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