NEWS: Zimbabwe again refuses Hopewell Chin’ono bail, and government denies crisis

Last updated on September 11th, 2021 at 02:35 pm

Zimbabwe’s High Court on Thursday denied bail to a journalist who used to be arrested ultimate month for assisting anti-govermnent protests, in a case that has sparked an outcry over muzzling of the press.

Hopewell Chin’ono, a freelance journalist and critic of the government, was once charged with inciting violence final month, together with opposition baby-kisser Jacob Ngarivhume.

Security forces deployed remaining Friday to thwart protests towards President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government’s report on corruption and a worsening economic crisis.

South Africa said it used to be involved through reviews of rights violations in its neighbour and its international members of the family minister had spoken to Zimbabwean foreign minister about the issue.

Late on Thursday, the office of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa introduced that he had appointed two new extraordinary envoys to Zimbabwe – veteran politicians Sydney Mufamadi and Baleka Mbete – “following current reviews of difficulties that the Republic of Zimbabwe is experiencing”.

Zimbabwe’s authorities stated allegations of human rights abuses were false and there was once no crisis in Zimbabwe.

“Neither has there been any abduction or ‘war’ on citizens,” government spokesman Nick Mangwana stated in a statement.

Judge Tawanda Chitapi upheld the ruling of a lower court that denied Chin’ono bail closing month. The judge deferred politician Ngarivhume’s bail ruling to Friday.

(IOL)