By A Correspondent- Bulawayo24.com journalist Simbarashe Sithole was finally released from police cells after 9 hours of detention at Machipisa police station on Thursday.

The police took 9 hours persuading the journalist to pay  RTGS $1000 for allegedly improper masking which he paid under duress.

Having been arrested for unnecessary movement the police changed the charge after police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi  intervened.

Human Rights forum lawyer Nobel Chinhau had to intervene since the police officers were not keen with Sithole’s identity.

Speaking to Bulawayo24.com the lawyer said,” lnitially the charges were of moving unnecessarily at Machipisa Shopping center before the charge changed and he was told that he had been arrested for not properly wearing a mask.

Despite my explanation to my police officers as his lawyer that journalists are allowed to move freely they insisted that  the accused had to appear in court after 48hours”.

Sithole opted to pay the fine instead of staying in the cells which puts him at a risk of contracting Covid-19.