(Last Updated on September 2, 2020 by Editor)
HARARE – Prominent freelance journalist, Hopewell Chin’ono has been released on ZW$10 000 bail by Justice Tawanda Chitapi of the High Court in Harare today.
Hopewell’s bail conditions include that he surrenders his passport and title deeds to property, to remain at given residential address and report to Highlands Police every Mondays and Fridays.
He is also barred from using or posting inciteful material on Twitter.
The prominent journalist has been at Chikurubi Maximum Prison for 45 days after he was arrested on 20 July 2020 on flimsy charges of inciting public violence after exposing massive corruption done by government officials.
He was arrested together with Jacob Ngarivhume who was also granted bail today.
They were said to have incited public violence after they had called for peaceful demonstration against corruption.
Hopewell Chin’ono has endured harsh conditions in prison since then as he was at some point denied home cooked meals and had to survive on biscuits and water.
He also had his lawyer, Beatrice Mtetwa barred from representing him after the state had for some time denied them from having private conversation which are a legal right of any client and their lawyers.
Yesterday, Chin’ono was forced to attend court despite his personal doctor strongly advising against it due to his illness.