NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) – A prominent Zimbabwean journalist accused of reporting falsehoods has been jailed after it emerged he was likely exposed to people with COVID-19 before his arrest.
Zimbabwe police arrested Hopewell Chin’ono on Friday for the third time in five months. The latest arrest comes after he tweeted that police had killed a baby while enforcing COVID-19 rules this week. Police later said the information was false.
His lawyers argued for his freedom on Saturday, claiming he was arrested illegally, but the court could not hear the arguments and arrested him.
His lawyer, Harrison Nkomo, said Chin’ono could have been exposed to people who have since tested positive for COVID-19 during a recent visit to South Africa – a reason why he had to stay home.
The prosecutor, on the other hand, argued that his exposure was reason to send him to jail to keep everyone safe until he underwent a medical examination.
Magistrate Lazini Ncube ordered that Chin’ono be transported separately from other detainees to the jail, and that he be kept in solitary confinement while his attempt at freedom was heard on Monday.
The magistrate said Chin’ono should be provided with blankets and hot water, according to the lawyers who were not available during his previous period in prison.
Prior to the latest arrest, Chin’ono was incited on bail on charges of violence after expressing support in July for a protest against the government, and also for contempt of court for alleged corruption in the national prosecuting agency.
Chin’ono is one of Zimbabwe’s leading critics of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government, accusing him of corruption and human rights abuses. The government denies the charges.
Prior to his arrest in July, Chin’ono posted a statement on Twitter claiming that corruption had a $ 60 million purchase of protective equipment for health workers.
Mnangagwa later fired the health minister, who is formally charged with corruption. Chin’ono and his supporters say he is being targeted for exposing the government’s ent. The government and the ruling party accused him of trying to damage Mnangagwa’s image.