Bloomberg News
@Bloomberg-News·2.8M subscribers·40.1K videos
Jailed Zimbabwean Journalist Released on Bail After Nearly 6 Weeks Behind Bars
Posted
September 3, 2020
Views
15,883
Likes
95
Comments
18
Engagement
September 3, 2020
15,883
95
18
0.71%
Every word spoken in this episode is indexed. Type any phrase to jump straight to the moment it was said.
Type any word or phrase that may have been spoken. Click a result to seek the player to that exact moment.
Try a name, a topic, or a quoted line
You’re on September 3, 2020. Earlier episodes are to the left, later ones to the right — the row keeps loading as you go. Click any card to open it.
Sep 3, 20201:32Now Playing(AP) Zimbabwean journalist Hopewell Chin'ono walked out of prison on Wednesday saying that he had been strengthened by the nearly six weeks he was jailed and he remains committed to exposing corruption.
Chin'ono, 49, was released on bail on Wednesday pending trial on charges of inciting public violence for tweeting his support for an anti-government demonstration.
It was his fourth attempt at getting bail, after the first three were rejected.
He denounced the conditions in Chikuribi prison, saying that most prisoners don't have soap and water and that a cell meant for 16 people holds up to 45 prisoners. He vowed to continue reporting on corruption in Zimbabwe.
His bail conditions ban him from using Twitter until his trial is finished, but he said he would find another platform.
Chin'ono said he had a fever but was "feeling much better," in response to reports that he had symptoms of Covid-19.
Chin'ono was arrested on July 20 and charged with inciting violence for expressing support on his Twitter account for an anti-government demonstration. That protest was thwarted by police and the military on July 31.
Chin'ono had recently published an expose in which he alleged corruption involving a $60 million purchase of protective equipment for health workers. President Emmerson Mnangagwa later fired the health minister, who has been formally charged with corruption in the case.
Opposition politician Jacob Ngarivhume, an organiser of the foiled protest, was arrested, charged and released at the same time as Chin'ono.
He has also been barred from posting on his Twitter account until his case is decided.
Earlier Wednesday, scores of lawyers in their courtroom robes protested outside the High Court demanding that the government and the courts respect Zimbabwe's constitution.
The lawyers argued that the courts have unfairly denied bail to some prisoners and have interfered with lawyers working to defend prisoners, such as Chin'ono.
Chin'ono had previously been denied bail three times and his lawyers say prison authorities forced him to mingle with other prisoners despite showing symptoms consistent with COVID-19.
Lawyers are still waiting for results of tests carried out this week.
Journalists' organisations, western embassies and human rights groups say Chin'ono is being punished for exposing government corruption.
Subscribe to our YouTube channel
QUICKTAKE ON SOCIAL:
Follow QuickTake on Twitter: twitter.com/quicktake
Like QuickTake on Facebook: facebook.com/quicktake
Follow QuickTake on Instagram: instagram.com/quicktake
Subscribe to our newsletter
Email us at quicktakenews@gmail.com
QuickTake by Bloomberg is a global news network delivering up-to-the-minute analysis on the biggest news, trends and ideas for a new generation of leaders.
Sentinel Indexing in Progress
Metadata and chapters are available. Claim extraction for this episode is pending.
All video content is delivered via YouTube embedded players in accordance with the YouTube Terms of Service. Sentinel provides research tools that promote discovery and accountability across political media.
