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Pictures Of Visibly Sick Hopewell Chinono In Court Not Hospital, “Why are the authorities risking the life of a human being like this.”
1 September 2020
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After spending six weeks in remand prison applying for bail a record three times, incarcerated journalist Hopewell Chin’ono on Tuesday was captured in pictures at the Harare magistrates Court looking very sick and needing medical attention than being in court.

His lawyer Doug Coltart on Monday visited Chin’ono, who is on remand at the Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison, where condemned hardcore criminals are kept.

Coltart said, “Hopewell has been visited and examined by his own doctor and the symptoms of headache and fever are all consistent with Covid-19.

“Swabs have been taken and [we are] now awaiting test results after which the legal team would want Hopewell Chin’ono to be admitted at a hospital soonest. He has been given medication for the meantime.

Contrary to doctors reports, the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) which has its own medical team says he is well and being treated like any other prisoner.

ZPCS spokesperson Superintendent Meya Khanyezi said just like any other prisoner, Chin’ono was allowed to be attended by a doctor of his choice even after he had been attended to by resident prison doctors.

“As far as we are concerned, he is well, but to our surprise, social media is awash with unconfirmed reports that he is not well. However, as the ZPCS we have allowed his personal doctor to go and see him,” she said.

Chinono was arrested on 20 July, as was Transform Zimbabwe opposition leader Jacob Ngarivhume. The two are charged with “incitement to participate in a gathering with intent to promote public violence”.