Zimbabwe arrests journalist over story on first lady's underwear donation

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 3 October 2017

Kenneth Nyangani, a journalist with NewsDay, has been arrested in Zimbabwe following his report on First Lady Grace Mugabe's underwear donation. The Committee to Protect Journalists has condemned the arrest and called for his immediate release.

Summary

NEW YORK - The Committee to Protect Journalists Tuesday called on Zimbabwean authorities to immediately release NewsDay journalist Kenneth Nyangani and drop all charges against him.

Nyangani was arrested Monday and charged with criminal nuisance for reporting that First Lady Grace Mugabe had donated used underwear to supporters of the country's ruling ZANU-PF party, his lawyer, Passmore Nyakureba, told CPJ.

Police first indicated they would charge the journalist with criminal defamation, which has been declared unconstitutional by the country's court, Nyakureba was quoted as saying by Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights. Nyangani will appear in court Wednesday.

"Zimbabwean authorities should stop harassing Kenneth Nyangani and release him immediately without charge," said CPJ Africa Program Coordinator Angela Quintal. "The fact that police had to fish for a new charge because their first accusation was unconstitutional shows that this arrest is aimed squarely at intimidating Zimbabwean journalists into self-censorship."

KEY POINTS:

• Kenneth Nyangani charged with criminal nuisance in Zimbabwe.
• Arrest linked to report on Grace Mugabe's donation of used underwear.
• Initial charges were deemed unconstitutional by the courts.
• CPJ calls for Nyangani's immediate release.
• The situation highlights ongoing press freedom issues in Zimbabwe.