'Undermining the president': Zimbabwean editor spent night in jail for satirical article
Veteran Zimbabwean journalist and Editor of Zimbabwe Independent newspaper Faith Zaba was arrested in Harare on allegations of undermining the authority of or insulting the president.
Image: The Standard/Facebook
Veteran Zimbabwean journalist and Editor of Zimbabwe Independent newspaper Faith Zaba was arrested in Harare on controversial allegations of undermining the authority of or insulting the president.
The arrest, which has attracted widespread condemnation from human rights bodies and press freedom watchdogs, stems from a satirical article published under the "Muckracker" column criticising President Emmerson Mnangagwa who is current chair of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
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The article was published on Friday by the independent weekly newspaper, with the headline: “When you become mafia state”.
On Tuesday, Zaba’s lawyer Chris Mhike told IOL News that Zaba would spend the night in police custody before appearing before the Harare Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday morning.
The satirical column "Muckracker" published in the Zimbabwe Independent before Editor Faith Zaba was arrested.
Image: Sunday Independent
Mhike said after the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) recorded a warned and cautioned statement from Zaba, the police insisted on detaining her overnight, pending a court appearance provisionally set for Wednesday.
“We are deeply disappointed with the determination of the authorities to lock Zaba up, even in the face of medical confirmation of her current severe illness,” Mhike told IOL News.
Meanwhile, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has called for Zaba’s unconditional release.
The Zimbabwe Human Rights Monitors Platform has also demanded the release of the editor.
“We call for the release of Faith Zaba, who was recently arrested and charged with undermining the authority of the president,” the Zimbabwe Human Rights Monitors Platform posted on X.
Senior Alpha Media Holdings and HStv journalist Blessed Mhlanga recently spent 72 days at the crowded Harare Remand Prison after HStv broadcast utterances by former Zanu PF central committee member, Blessed Geza, calling for President Mnangagwa to step down.
In May, Mhlanga was granted provisional release from prison.
Commenting on Zaba’s arrest, Mhlanga wrote on X: On February 24, it was me, today it’s my boss Fath Zaba, tomorrow it’s you. The editor of @Zimindependent being arrested over a satire column is some crazy stuff. In this cold she is braving the cells for allowing free speech. Nobody is safe even those who are arresting people”.
jonisayi.maromo@iol.co.za
IOL News