Thread by @ZimRightsLIVE

In our #ZimbabweanLivesMatter Series, today we profile Hopewell Chin’ono who like Jacob Ngarivhume is at Chikurubhi Maximum Prison for twitting about corruption

@dzikamaibere @ZimHRNGOForum @zenzele @ZLHRLawyers @zimlive @SwedeninZW @UNHumanRights @hrw @HRF @humanrights1st

On page 5 of the 2018 election manifesto, dubbed, “ZANU PF 2018 Peoples Manifesto” President @edmnangagwa was described as an engaging and highly accessible leader who among other things listens to the people

#ZimbabweanLivesMatter #FreeZimbabwe @hrw

slideshare.net/povonews/zanu-…

The manifesto, which used the motto, “The voice of the people is the voice of God, further notes that @edmnangagwa will uphold ethical governance practices that demand accountability, transparency, and responsibility in the management of public resources and the economy.

This indeed was a promising start for the multitude of Zimbabweans who had for decades witnessed high-level corruption among top politicians and government officials.

#ZimbabweanLivesMatter @NicolaWatson13 @Wamagaisa @dzikamaibere @LRFZimbabwe @DrNyashaForMP @DougColtart

In a story run by the state-owned newspaper, @SundayMailZim, on 21 July 2020, titled Rich pickings for whistleblowers, the paper claimed...

...whistleblowers who lift the lid on corruption will soon be entitled to rich rewards while their security will also be guaranteed under a raft of new measures proposed by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) to fight festering rot in both the public and private sector

The proposals, exclusively obtained by The @SundayMailZim, are contained in the principles for the amendment of the Anti-Corruption Act, which are now before the Attorney-General’s Office & the Office of the President & Cabinet

#ZimbabweanLivesMatter

On the 18th of June, ZACC spokesperson Commissioner John Makamure was quoted by @citezw saying the commission had proposed a bill to protect whistleblowers who have been victimized for exposing corruption.

#ZimbabweanLivesMatter @dzikamaibere @HRF @hrw

cite.org.zw/zacc-moves-to-…

One of the major challenges in the fight against corruption is detecting and exposing the scourge. Whistleblowing, therefore, becomes an absolute means to fight this vice.

#ZimbabweanLivesMatter @chipochung @thandienewton @kgosinyathi @gilmoretee @Hlengiwe_Mt @Thwithakazi

As the nation eagerly waited for the amended laws, #July 31 came, which politician Jacob Ngarivhume said this will be a day that Zimbabweans would march against corruption.

#ZimbabweanLivesMatter @DougColtart @thomasmbetu @Ushiee14 @namataik_ @realnigelndlovu @drnmatara

Chin’ono became more than a whistleblower as he exposed corrupt deals in government tenders in the procurement of essentials to fight COVID-19.

#ZimbabweanLivesMatter @Wamagaisa @ProfJNMoyo @advocatemahere

Chin’ono indeed deserved “the rich pickings,” but alas he was arrested. The sin that he committed was exposing corruption, which saw the awarding of procurement contracts without following the procedure including the Drax Health Ministry deal.

theafricareport.com/30676/zimbabwe…

The sanction of the sin is detention at the notorious Chikurubhi Maximum Prison.

#ZimbabweanLivesMatter #FreeHopewell @DougColtart @zhrc365 @UNHumanRights @ZimHRNGOForum @eNCA @SABCNews @AJEnglish @skynews

https://twitter.com/ZimRightsLIVE/status/1294211234695385088

Hopewell Chin’ono: Journalism criminalised

Hopewell Chin’ono, 49, a Zimbabwean freelance journalist and award winning documentary film maker is expected to be languishing at Chikurubhi Maximum Prison until August 25 for tweeting about corruption.

https://twitter.com/ZimRightsLIVE/status/1286288121433292800

1.1 His fresh bid for bail which will be heard in the camera failed to take off Thursday, 12 August 2020 after the Prosecutor Wisper Mabhaudi made an application seeking to bar his lawyer Beatrice Mutetwa from representing him...

#ZimbabweanLivesMatter #FreeHopewell

1.2 ... alleging she was posting what was happening in court on social media before the case has been completed.

#ZimbabweanLivesMatter #FreeHopewell

Chin'ono was arrested and charged with "inciting to commit public violence" for tweets he had posted encouraging Zimbabweans to participate in protests on 31 July 2020.

#ZimbabweanLivesMatter #FreeHopewell @hrw @Trevornoah @icecube @chipochung @kubatana

https://twitter.com/ZimRightsLIVE/status/1285200754387582977

He is said to have contravened Section 187 (1) (a) as read with section 37 (1) (a) (i) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 9:23, “incitement to participate in public violence.”

#ZimbabweanLivesMatter @TrevorNcube @habakkuktrust

https://twitter.com/ZimRightsLIVE/status/1285200754387582977

On 20 July, Hopewell Chin'ono live-streamed his arrest before being told to put his phone down. His Lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa in a video statement showing a broken patio door said her client had been abducted.

#ZimbabweanLivesMatter #FreeHope @hrw

newzimbabwe.com/watch-journali…

Section 59 of the Zimbabwe constitution provides for the right to demonstrate and petition. Section 51 of the Zimbabwe Constitution provides for the Freedom of expression and freedom of the media.

#ZimbabweanLivesMatter

https://twitter.com/ZimRightsLIVE/status/1285174940656906241

Despite these rights, prosecutors accuse Chin’ono of posting various messages on his twitter account calling upon Zimbabweans across the country to engage in acts of public violence against the government on 31 July 2020.

#ZimbabweanLivesMatter #FreeHopewell

The anti-corruption journalist, through his social media, supported an organized, peaceful demonstration against corruption. An exercise of guaranteed rights, section 60 (1) of the constitution provides for the freedom of conscience.

#ZimbabweanLivesMatter @kubatana @citezw

It gives freedom to propagate and give expression to their thought, opinion, religion, or belief, whether in public or in private and whether alone or together with others.

#ZimbabweanLivesMatter #FreeHopewell @zenzele @realnigelndlovu @namataik_

https://twitter.com/ZimRightsLIVE/status/1285210357930373120

He was denied bail on several court appearances. On the 6th of August, High Court Judge, Tawanda Chitapi, denied him bail. ZimRights raised concern over the bail denial.

#ZimbabweanLivesMatter #FreeHopewell @Ushiee14 @ruruemawere @dzikamaibere @ZimHRNGOForum

Magistrate Ngoni Nduna had previously denied him bail on the 24th of July, which prompted him to file an appeal with the High Court of Zimbabwe. In his ruling, Chitapi said the appellant had failed to demonstrate that Nduna had erred in his judgment, he could not interfere

ZimRights maintains that Chin’ono did not commit any crime by inciting Zimbabweans to demonstrate peacefully.

#ZimbabweanLivesMatter @chipochung @UNHumanRights @DanaiGurira @DougColtart @Wamagaisa @hrw @thandienewton @RealBlackCoffee

If he did, bail is a fundamental right as enshrined in section 49 of the constitution that states every person has a right to liberty. Section 49 (1)(b) states that the right to liberty includes not to be deprived of their liberty arbitrarily or without a just cause #FreeHopewell

Section 50 Rights of the arrested and detained persons (1)(d) states that they must be released unconditionally or on reasonable conditions, pending a charge or trial, unless compelling reasons are justifying further detention.

#ZimbabweanLivesMatter

The courts have not given compelling reasons on why Chin’ono should continue in detention.

https://twitter.com/ZimRightsLIVE/status/1285200754387582977

#FreeHopewell #ZimbabweanLivesMatter

At Chikurubi, Chin’ono’s lawyers said he is surviving on biscuits and water is as he does not eat sadza for medical reasons. He had also been denied warm clothes.

#ZimbabweanLivesMatter #FreeHopewell @thandienewton @chipochung @UNHumanRights @Ushiee14

nehandatv.com/2020/08/13/wat…

Despite the Rights of arrested & detained persons in section 50 particularly (1)(b)(ii) which states (detained persons) must be permitted without delay at their own expense, to consult in private with a legal practitioner and a medical practitioner of their choice...

... ZPCS kept on eavesdropping on conversations between Chin’ono and his lawyers.

#FreeHopewell #ZimbabweanLivesMatter

Hopewell does not deserve to be at the notorious Chikurubhi prison for whistleblowing about corruption. By pushing the hearing of the bail bid to the end of August, there is an inordinate delay in bail determination.

#ZimbabweanLivesMatter #FreeHopewell @PacheduZW @euinzim

ZimRights, therefore calls on #Zimbabwe and the criminal justice system to guarantee Chin’ono the right of personal liberty by ensuring that bail granting is not politicized. Chin’ono life matters. Journalism is not a crime.

#ZimbabweanLivesMatter @263Chat @monitorszim