HARARE – Zimbabwe Independent editor, Faith Zaba, arrested last night for a satirical column critical of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, will remain jailed at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison. Her bail hearing is scheduled for tomorrow (Thursday).
The arrest has sparked widespread condemnation from media organizations, who view it as a blow to press freedom and part of an increasing crackdown on dissent in the country.
Zaba’s column, which reportedly insinuated President Mnangagwa is “head of a mafia state,” led to her arrest by officers from the Criminal Investigation Department’s Law and Order section.
She surrendered herself to the police accompanied by her lawyer, Tatenda Chikohora, and was detained allegedly despite medical confirmation of a severe illness.
Chris Mhike, another lawyer for Alpha Media Holdings (AMH), which publishes the Zimbabwe Independent, confirmed the detention, stating, “After recording a warned and cautioned statement, police insisted on detaining her overnight, despite medical confirmation of her current severe illness.”
AMH also owns The NewsDay, The Standard, and operates the online TV and radio station Heart & Soul.
The Zimbabwe National Editors’ Forum (ZNEF) swiftly denounced the arrest. Chairman Dumisani Muleya stated that Zaba’s arrest for “merely doing her job properly” was “reprehensible” and “unacceptable.”
“When journalists are even arrested for satirical columns and quotidian or mundane criticism of those in power, it raises serious questions about press freedom, the rule of law and governance under President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration.
“It becomes clear to all and sundry media is under renewed attack,” Muleya said.
He stated that satire is a legitimate form of political expression and not a crime.
“Besides, Zaba is not well and so detaining her in this chilly winter weather on such flimsy charges is evidently insensitive, callous and needless,” he added. Muleya warned that such actions damage the government’s reputation and have a “chilling effect on the media.”
The Zimbabwe Union of Journalists (ZUJ) also issued a strong condemnation, expressing deep disturbance “by criminalisation of journalism over editorial content that falls squarely within the boundaries of journalistic expression and satire.”
ZUJ highlighted the apparent contradiction between Zaba’s arrest and the recently launched Media Policy by President Mnangagwa, which “pledges to promote an open, tolerant, and free media environment.”
“Zaba’s arrest and treatment runs counter to the spirit and commitments of this policy, and risks undermining confidence in the government’s professed reform agenda.
“ZUJ is also alarmed by reports that Zaba, who is suffering from a serious illness, was detained overnight despite medical confirmation of her condition.
“This raises grave concerns about her health, safety, and the proportionality of the actions taken by law enforcement. We therefore demand the immediate and unconditional release of Zaba,” the union stated.
This incident follows the recent 73-day detention of another AMH senior journalist, Blessed Mhlanga, who was arrested for airing war veterans’ criticisms of President Mnangagwa, including accusations of leadership failure, corruption, incompetence, nepotism, and tribal patronage.
For the past seven years, Mnangagwa’s administration has been associated with massive human rights abuses characterised by arrests of opposition politicians and journalists, killing of the dissent, abductions and corruption.
The United States government slapped the Zanu-PF leader with sanctions due to these damning reports against his government.
