HARARE, Jul 2 (NewsDay Live) -The Zimbabwe National Editors’ Forum (Zinef) has raised concern over the detention of Zimbabwe Independent editor Faith Zaba over a satirical column.
In a statement released Wednesday, Zined chairperson Dumisani Muleya described the government’s actions as unfair, accusing authorities of continually targeting the media.
“We strongly condemn this reprehensible, objectionable and repressive action by government and authorities who continue with their siege on the media,” Muleya said.
He said several journalists have been harassed, intimidated, and arrested in recent months.
“Zaba’s colleague Blessed Mhlanga was released in May after 73 days in detention,” he said.
“Prior to that, and even earlier in 2020, another senior journalist Hopewell Chin’ono was detained for 44 days.”
Muleya said journalists are subjected to harsh treatment during detention, with pre-trial incarceration being weaponised to punish them unjustly.
“In some of these cases, long pre-trial detention has been used to unjustly punish those targeted,” he said.
- Letter to my people: The experiment has failed spectacularly
- Village Rhapsody: Zimbabwean journalists under siege
- AMH journalists arrested
- Letter to my people: The experiment has failed spectacularly
Keep Reading
He said the arrest of journalists forms part of a broader political crackdown on dissent, with media outlets being punished for publishing content that those in power perceive as offensive.
“Zaba’s arrest for a satirical column in her newspaper last Friday raises serious concerns about freedom of expression and press freedom in Zimbabwe,” said Muleya.
“Satire is a legitimate form of commentary and critique, and journalists should be able to exercise their creative freedom without fear of persecution,” Muleya said.
Muleya said the continuous arrest of journalists clearly shows that the media is under renewed attack.
“Satire, which is a valuable tool for holding power to account and promoting public discourse, is not a crime,” he said.
