ALPHA Media Holdings senior journalist and editor of Zimbabwe Independent (ZimInd), Faith Zaba, was yesterday remanded in custody when she appeared at the Harare Magistrates Court on a charge of undermining the authority of President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Zaba, who was arrested on Tuesday after ZimInd published a satirical article in the Muckraker column, is expected back in court today for bail application.
Zaba, who is being represented by Chris Mhike, appeared before provincial magistrate Vakai Douglas Chikwekwe.
Appearing for the State, Takudzwa Jambawo asked for postponement of the matter to today saying they wanted to verify documents submitted by Mhike on Zaba’s behalf.
Mhike had submitted documents pertaining to Zaba’s health, saying she had been on bed rest on the advice of her doctor.
The lawyer said the State did not dispute their submission in relation to health, adding that he hoped the prosecution would assure them that she would not be further detained due to her condition.
Allegations are that on June 27 this year, Zaba, as the editor of the weekly newspaper, caused the publication of an article titled When you become a mafia State, intending to undermine the authority of or insult the President.
The State alleges that in the article, Zaba included Mnangagwa’s photograph with his Mozambican counterpart Daniel Chapo.
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The prosecution said the contents of the article were false in material and designed to engender feelings of hostility in the citizens of Zimbabwe towards the President.
Meanwhile, Zaba’s arrest has been condemned by local and international Press freedom advocates who described it as unjust and a violation of basic freedoms.
The World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) called for Zaba’s immediate and unconditional release as well as for all charges against her to be dropped.
“Instead of arresting journalists and criminalising the profession, Zimbabwean authorities should be doing everything in their power to protect media freedom and the hard-won constitutionally-guaranteed rights of the country’s media professionals,” said WAN-IFRA Press freedom executive director, Andrew Heslop.
“Satire is an essential component of a free Press, and public figures — presidents included — should accept that their roles expose them to greater levels of public scrutiny.
“A strong, healthy democracy should have confidence in holding a mirror to itself and the actions of its leaders.
“That is a free media’s indispensable role — and Ms Zaba should be immediately freed to continue doing it.”
The Zimbabwe National Editors Forum and the Zimbabwe Union of Journalists also urged the authorities to stop targeting journalists in what they said was a sustained crackdown on independent journalists.
Zaba became the second senior AMH journalist to be arrested this year following the 73-day pre-trial detention of HStv head of news Blessed Mhlanga after his station broadcast Press conferences addressed by expelled Zanu PF central committee member Blessed Geza calling for Mnangagwa’s resignation.
