Blessed Mhlanga, James
Muonwa and Wycliff Nyarota
journalists employed by the
Network Guardian.

Harrison Nkomo, leading
media lawyer

prosecutor to familiarise
himself with the case. The
charge against Chikowore
arises from the torching of a
bus in Harare’s suburb of
Warren Park on 15 April 2008.
Charged with contravening
6 May 2008
the Supreme Court-nullified
Section 80 (1) (A) (2) of the
repressive Access to
Information and Protection of
Privacy Act (AIPPA) which
used to prohibit publication of
falsehoods. The state alleges
that on 26 March 2006, the
three or one of them,
unlawfully and intentionally
and recklessly falsified
information that is injurious to
the reputation, rights and
freedoms of others and
published a story that George
Muvhimi and Tatenda
Munhanga were caught with
their pants down while having
sexual intercourse in a vehicle
at Mbizo Shopping Centre in
Kwekwe. Trial postponed after
one of the state witnesses
failed to turn up.
Arrested and detained at
7 May 2008
Harare Central Police Station
over an allegedly insulting
statement he made against
the President on 2 May 2008.
He is accused of having made
the statement to Michael
Mugabe who is a law officer in
the Attorney-General’s Office
on 2 April 2008 by allegedly
saying: “Go and tell your
father that he must vacate
office because he has failed to
rule.” His lawyer Beatrice
Mtetwa indicated that he was
likely to be charged under
Section 33 of the Criminal
Law (Codification and Reform)
Act which deals with
undermining the authority or

23

Select target paragraph3