Church Leaders Condemn the Arrests of Chino’ono and Ngarivhume
By Desire Tshuma
HARARE,Zimbabwe.(News of the South)-Churches have rubbished the arrests of the president of Free Zim Jacob Ngarivhume and journalist Hopewell Chino’ono by police on the allegations of inciting 31 July demonstrations piling pressure on President Mnangagwa to respect rights of Zimbabweans.
Zimbabwe Council of Churches condemned the arrests arguing that exposing corruption is not a crime and non violent protests are constitutional.
“Today I pray for # freeHopewell and #Jacob,exposing corruption is biblical Eph 5 vs 11 and non violent protesting is constitutional , the two books are foundation to my faith and and citizenship,” said Dr Rev Mtata .
He added that corruption shall never be acceptable in the society and has eroded the country’s livelihoods and economy.
Our leaders should create conducive working environment to the citizens , why should the state arrest the member of the fourth estate for doing his job,” quizzed Dr. Rev Mtata who is the General Secretary for Zimbabwe Council of Churches .
The Zimbabwe Republic Police on Tuesday arrested both Chino’ono and Ngarivhume at their homes.
Police officers broke Chin’ono glass door, got inside the house and handcuffed him.
He was thrown into their truck and took him to the Law and Order section at Harare Central Police station without telling him about the charge.
Police went back to his Chisipite house and searched the house without producing search warrant with the intention to seize the journalist’s equipment which includes cameras and computers before they were stopped by his lawyer Advocate Beatrice Mtetwa .
The accused persons appeared in court on Thursday and Friday seperately facing charges of inciting citizens to peacefully demonstrate against corruption on July 31, both were denied bail and remanded in custody to 7 August.
LEAD president Ms Linda Masarira has on the other side issued statement accusing them as agents of the United States of America who want to front the regime change agenda.
Meanwhile, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has imposed a strict lockdown and curfew in Zimbabwe starting from 6pm till 6am as a measure to curb the spread of Coronavirus.
Zimbabweans have criticised him for imposing the curfew as a counter tactic to block July 31st demonstrations.
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