(Last Updated on September 10, 2020 by GERALD NCUBE)
HARARE – The case against two journalists, Samuel Takawira and Frank Chikowore collapsed today after Magistrate Hove discharged and acquitted the duo.
Chikowore and Takawira were on trial for allegedly violating COVID-19 national lockdown regulations after they were arrested on 22 May at Parktown Hospital while they wanted to interview three female MDC-Alliance activists who were detained at the health facility.
The two spent close to a week in detention upon their arrest.
Journalists and activists have increasingly become targets of the state and there have been many concerns that the government is using the Covid-19 lockdown to curtail fundamental freedoms including freedom of assembly, the press and expression.