Chin’ono,Ngarivhume not being persecuted

ZTN Correspondent

Opposition Transform Zimbabwe leader,Jacob Ngarivhume and journalist-cum-political activist,Hopewell Chin’ono were not arrested for speaking out against corruption, but for trying to incite the nation into toppling a constitutionally elected government, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Monica Mutsvangwa told journalists on Saturday.

The two were arrested on Monday and were both denied bail on Thursday and Friday respectively.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Hopewell Chin’ono was not abducted. He was lawfully arrested by the Zimbabwe Republic Police. And he was not arrested for exposing corruption.

“He was arrested for using his social media accounts to incite Zimbabweans to violently overthrow the Government,” said minister Mutsvangwa.

She argued that almost all independent media houses in Zimbabwe openly report on corruption both in the public and private sector, the journalists have never been persecuted.

“Even though Hopewell Chin’ono writes about corruption he is not unique in this regard. All the Newspapers in Zimbabwe, including independent publications have written extensively about corruption in Government and private sector. None of the Journalists who have written about the subject of corruption have been arrested for publishing the same,” said Mutsvangwa

She said President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration is not blind to corruption if recent big name arrests are anything to go by.

“President Mnangagwa ordered an investigation into the Drax Affair before Hopewell Chin’ono started tweeting about it. As a result of those investigations several arrests were made. The most prominent of those arrested was the former Minister of Health and Child Care, Dr Obadiah Moyo who was charged and relieved of his duties as Minister of Health and Child Care.”