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ZimLive editor
Mduduzi Mathuthu
CREDIT: MDUDUZI
MATHUTHU via
TWITTER

alleging that FP du Toit Transport employees
had tested positive for the novel coronavirus.
Two journalists from the Namibian Sun and
The Namibian respectively, were assaulted by
President Geingob’s security personnel at the
Windhoek Central Hospital, while he officially
opened the Covid-19 isolation facility. The two
journalists have since filed an assault case against
the police VIP Protection Directorate.
In Zimbabwe, despite the recognition as
essential service providers, up to 52 journalists
were harassed, assaulted, arrested and detained,
in many instances beyond the legally prescribed
time, during the nationwide lockdown and the
Covid-19 period. In April 2020, the High Court
in Zimbabwe ordered police to desist from
arresting, detaining or interfering with the work
of journalists providing coverage during the
Covid-19 lockdown, in response to a petition
filed by MISA Zimbabwe and Panashe Makufa, a
journalist, who were challenging continued police
harassment and arrest of journalists while on
duty. The judge directed the police to inform the
other enforcers of the lockdown to recognise the
validity of the 2019 media press card, and allow

journalists to do their work.
Other notable cases include freelance journalist
Terence Sipuma, who was reportedly assaulted
by members of the army and the police at the
Kuwadzana roundabout in Harare while on
his way to Chegutu to report on the Covid-19
lockdown. The journalist Hopewell Chin’ono
was first arrested on 20 July 2020 for allegedly
inciting people to participate in a gathering with
intent to promote public violence, breaches of
peace, bigotry or alternatively incitement to
commit public violence. He was released from
custody by the High Court on 2 September 2020;
but was arrested again in November on charges
of obstructing justice. These cases are still
pending before the courts. It is said that Chin’ono
had investigated and uncovered allegations
of corruption in the procurement of Covid-19
equipment. In a related incident, police raided
the home of ZimLive editor, Mduduzi Mathuthu,
who they accused of promoting violence.
Mathuthu immediately went into hiding, but the
police arrested his relatives in an effort to smoke
him out. His nephew, Tawanda Muchehiwa was
abducted by state security agents and tortured

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