On the 20th of July, security agents in Zimbabwe arrested prominent investigative journalist, Hopewell Chin’ono, who in June, exposed a corruption scandal in the health ministry in the procurement of COVID-19 medical supplies worth $60 million. In a series of Facebook posts, Hopewell outlined alleged connections between Zimbabwe’s President’s son, Collins Mnangagwa, and Drax International, a United Arab Emirates-based company that was awarded a US$60 million contract to supply equipment to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
The same day, Jacob Ngavirhume, another activist and the leader of Transformation Zimbabwe, who had called for anti-corruption protests as a result of that report, was arrested as well.
“The arrests of Hopewell Chin’ono and Jacob Ngarivhume are designed to intimidate and send sending a chilling message to journalists, whistleblowers and activists who draw attention to matters of public interest in Zimbabwe,” says Deprose Muchena, Amnesty International Director for East and Southern Africa. The rights group has also called for their unconditional release. Hopewell and Jacob were charged with incitement to violence, according to a statement from police, and have appeared in court.
Following the arrests of Hopewell and Jacob, another arrest was made on 30 July during an anti-government protest, this time it was that of Tsitsi Dangaremgba who is a writer and Booker Prize nominee. The government had previously warned that participation in Friday’s demonstration would be termed an act of insurrection. She has been released on bail but Mr Hopewell and Mr Jacob will likely be sentenced.
Zimbabwe, under President Emmerson Mnangagwa, has witnessed further shrinkage of civil society. When he took over from long-time president Mugabe in November 2017, President Mnangagwa pledged his commitments to human rights reforms but not so much has changed. Investigations by the Human Rights Watch show the use of security forces to curb protests and silent dissent.
Addressing the recent happenings in the country, Mr Mnangagwa has saidthe country will overcome ‘attempts at destabilisation by a few rogue Zimbabweans acting in league with foreign detractors”. This could mean that the streets of Zimbabwe that have now been flooded with heavy security presence could remain so for a long time.
