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Hopewell Chin’ono / Facebook
Hopewell Chin’ono has embarrassed the government with a series of exposures
A Zimbabwean journalist who recently exposed alleged government corruption related to coronavirus supplies was accused of inciting public violence.
Hopewell Chin’ono broadcast her arrest live before she was told to hang up her phone.
An opposition politician, Jacob Ngarivhume, was also arrested in Harare on the same charges.
In a statement, Zimbabwean police appeared to confirm that the two arrests were related.
The US embassy called Chin’ono’s arrest very concerning, while his lawyer called it a kidnapping.
“We are not sure where they took him. His aide says they did not file an order when they got home,” human rights lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa said in a video statement.
Pointing to a smashed patio door at Chin’ono’s home, Ms. Mtetwa said eight or more security officers were involved in the raid.
The Amnesty campaign group accused Zimbabwean authorities of “abusing the criminal justice system to persecute journalists and activists” and said that “the arrests of Hopewell Chin’ono and Jacob Ngarivhume are designed to be intimidating.”
This video broadcast on Facebook seems to show the moment the investigative journalist confronted inside his house:
What did Mr. Chin’ono report on?
Mr. Chin’ono’s reports of the alleged Covid-19 purchase fraud within the health ministry led to the arrest and dismissal of Health Minister Obadiah Moyo.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa fired Moyo earlier this month for “inappropriate conduct” over the $ 60 million (£ 47.5 million) drug supply scandal.
Zimbabwe’s opposition party MDC said the state was persecuting a journalist for exposing government corruption.
A government official later responded by tweeting that journalists were not above the law.
Who was the arrested politician?
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Jacob Ngarivhume / Facebook
Opposition figure Jacob Ngarivhume is the organizer of a planned protest
Jacob Ngarivhume runs a small opposition party called Transform Zimbabwe.
But he appeared to be organizing plans for an anti-government protest on July 31.
Like Hopewell Chin’ono, the opposition politician was detained in capital Harare on Monday in what critics said was a concerted move to quell criticism of the government.
What’s going on in Zimbabwe?
BBC Africa correspondent Andrew Harding says the incident comes at a time of mounting tensions in Zimbabwe, with hyperinflation strangling the economy and speaking of a new round of mass protests against Zanu-PF, the party he has led the country since independence.
The Zimbabwean government promised reforms and economic growth after former President Robert Mugabe was ousted from power three years ago.
But critics say he has returned to his old habits of repression and corruption.
