(Last Updated on January 8, 2021 by GERALD NCUBE)
HARARE – Veteran journalist Hopewell Chin’ono has been arrested again, this time on charges of “communicating falsehoods.”
Writing on his social media platforms, the award-winning journalist said the charges were related to his recent tweet on a video that went viral on social media about a police officer who allegedly killed a minor while patrolling at an illegal rank in Harare.
“The police have come to arrest me! Let everyone know! 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 a order section at Harare Central Police Station,” he said.
Zimbabwe Lawyer for Human Rights (ZLHR) confirmed that they had received a distress call for the outspoken journalists about his arrest.
His lawyers are already attending to the matter.
Earlier today, MDC Alliance vice-chairman and Zengeza West MP Job Sikhala said he also got information that there was an imminent arrest order for him for also tweeting on the same issue.
“Alert Zimbabwe. I have received information that the Mnangagwa regime wants to arrest me today for the offence which I don’t know. They are alleging that I undermined the authority of the police by Twitting about the kid allegedly assaulted by them. I have alerted everyone,” he wrote on his Twitter account.
More details to follow…