The International Press Institute (IPI) today urged Zimbabwe authorities to drop criminal charges against a journalist who reported on a clothing donation given by Zimbabwean First Lady Grace Mugabe.
According to reports, NewsDay journalist Kenneth Nyangani was detained on the evening of Oct. 2 and charged with “causing a criminal nuisance” after reporting that Mugabe had donated used clothing, including underwear, to supporters of her political party, ZANU-PF.
After two days behind bars, Nyangani was released on $200 bail.
Grace Mugabe is controversial in Zambia for her reported excessive spending. She is also a candidate to take over power once her husband, Zimbabwe’s 93-year-old long-time ruler Robert Mugabe, dies or steps down.
In this context, Nyangani’s arrest suggests an attempt to intimidate the press from reporting on the powerful First Lady.
IPI Deputy Director Scott Griffen called for all charges against Nyangani to be dropped.
“While we welcome Kenneth Nyangani’s release on bail, the facts in this case suggest that he should not have been detained in the first place and that the charges against him are a reaction to a story that made those in power uncomfortable,” he said. “Zimbabwe must stop harassing critical media and cease its pattern of arbitrary arrests of journalists.”
Nyangani’s arrest was not the first attack on NewsDay in recent years. In January 2016, three members of NewsDay staff were detained and charged with “publishing falsehoods” over a story on Zimbabwe’s Central Intelligence Organisation. The charges were not dropped until June of this year.
In addition, at least a dozen journalists in Zimbabwe have also reportedly been detained or physically assaulted this year while attempting to cover popular protests that first sprang up in 2016.
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