By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) has ended the persecution of freelance journalist Hopewell Chin’ono after obtaining an order granted by Justice Jester Charewa in which she quashed criminal proceedings against Chin’ono on charges of communicating or publishing falsehoods.
Said the ZLHR :
“ZLHR lawyer Harrison Nkomo has ended the persecution of freelance journalist Hopewell Chin’ono after obtaining a court order granted by High Court Judge Justice Jester Charewa in which she quashed criminal proceedings against the anti-corruption campaigner on charges of publishing falsehoods.
Justice Charewa set aside Harare Magistrate Lazini Ncube’s decision to place Chin’ono on remand and declared that section 31 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act that is publishing or communicating falsehoods prejudicial to the State is no longer part of Zimbabwean law.”
Chin’ono was on 8 January 2021 arrested on allegations of publishing or communicating falsehoods prejudicial to the State.
It is alleged Chin’ono breached Section 31 (a) (iii) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act by posting a tweet that falsely reported the death of a child after a physical assault by the police