More than two years after former President Robert Mugabe resigned following a 37 years-long rule, Zimbabwe continues to crackdown on dissenting political views. Under the leadership of current President Emmerson Mnangagwa, there has been a spate of abductions of government critics, activists and even artists speaking out against the regime. Anti-government protests planned by the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) have often been banned and resulted in police brutality towards protesters.
READ: Zimbabwean Comedian Gonyeti was Allegedly Abducted and Beaten
According to The Guardian, Zimbabwe’s Secretary for Information, Nick Mangwana, recently posted on social media writing that “journalists are not above the law”. It is unclear if his tweet was connected to Chin’ono’s arrest.
There is no profession which is above the law.— Nick Mangwana (@Nick Mangwana)1595236497.0
-Journalists are not above the law.
-Lawyers are not above the law
-… https://t.co/448GzMlZnN
Those on the ground, including veteran author and filmmaker Tsitsi Dangarembga, are demanding the release of both Chin’ono and Jacob Ngarivhume. Those on social media are rallying together under the banner #FreeHopewell. Human rights groups have also called on the release of the journalist and others similarly in police custody.
Some men are so good at fighting off feminism but when it comes to real issues that affect our everyday life & need… https://t.co/J7yxwgsPdF— Wellence Mujuru (@Wellence Mujuru)1595316575.0
$60 million has contained #COVID19 in Rwanda. In Zimbabwe that money has gone to a briefcase company and those who… https://t.co/LHgLAt83PJ— African (@African)1595295339.0
Good morning to the HEROES OF OUR struggle! @daddyhope @Wamagaisa @jngarivhume @efie41209591 @DougColtart… https://t.co/AEQQGlnM4K— LynneM ??? (@LynneM ???)1595309558.0
Political detainees Hopewell Chin’ono & Jacob Ngarivhume spent the night in custody. Thanks to lawyers Beatrice Mte… https://t.co/1slnuNxwUd— Alex T Magaisa ?? (@Alex T Magaisa ??)1595314137.0
Lastly, @daddyhope is a @Harvard trained journalist, so I am hoping that the institution, my fellow alumni in the U… https://t.co/g9nsKE7eWz— Farai Gundan (@Farai Gundan)1595281299.0
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