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PoliticsZimbabwe

#FreeHopewellNow: An open letter to the AU and SADC

By Various co-signatories
July 31, 2020
1356
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Hopewell Chin'ono, the award-winning Zimbabwean journalist, was arrested on 20 July. Credit: Friends of Hopewell Chin'ono.

Over a hundred African writers call on the AU and SADC to end their silence and suspend Zimbabwe.

Hopewell Chin'ono, the award-winning Zimbabwean journalist, was arrested on 20 July. Credit: Friends of Hopewell Chin'ono.

Hopewell Chin’ono, the award-winning Zimbabwean journalist, was arrested on 20 July. Credit: Friends of Hopewell Chin’ono.

Dear African Union Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat and SADC Executive Secretary Dr Stergomena Tax,

As writers and journalists of African origin who are connected beyond borders, we state that we condemn the acts of violence on the home of journalist Hopewell Chin’ono. We equally condemn his arrest and subsequent denial of bail.

On 20 July 2020, award-winning Zimbabwean investigative journalist Mr Chin’ono who had, a month before, exposed corruption in the coronavirus-related contracts awarded by the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare to Drax International, tweeted that uniformed police had been questioning his staff. On the same day, uniformed police raided Mr Chin’ono’s home and arrested him without a warrant. For hours, his whereabouts were unclear. It took the release of footage of the police breaking a glass door at his home and arresting him for the police to admit that they had taken him.

Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Information, outside their mandate, released a charge sheet of Mr Chin’ono’s arrest via their Twitter account. Despite Mr Chin’ono’s arrest on 20 July, the charge sheet was dated 21 July. Breaking Zimbabwe’s own laws which requires a person to go to court within 24 hours of arrest, Mr Chin’ono only appeared in court on unclear charges four days later and was denied bail until 7 August. In contrast, the former Minister of Health, Dr Obadiah Moyo, who approved the contracts that Mr Chin’ono exposed, was charged with criminal abuse of office and granted bail within 24 hours of his arrest. Dr Moyo remains free while Mr Chin’ono is in jail.

By arresting Hopewell Chin’ono arbitrarily, the Zimbabwean state has contravened the African Charter for Human Rights, in particular Article 6 and Article 14 which Zimbabwe signed and ratified.

We note with dismay the silence of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African Union (AU) at this gross violation of not only Mr Chin’ono’s human rights, but at this clear intimidation of freedom of the press.

We note too that this is not the first time that individual and press rights have been violated by an AU member state with silence from the mother body. The African Union, an organisation that was quick to tell the world that #BlackLivesMatter in the wake of George Floyd’ murder and other human rights abuses by police in the United States, seems strangely silent about the violation of Black Lives in Africa.

We fear that as long as Zimbabwe continues to violate its citizens’ rights with impunity, we and fellow writers and journalists are in danger of having our rights violated in the different AU member states while the mother body stays silent. An injury to a Zimbabwean journalist for doing their job by the Zimbabwean state thus becomes potential injury to us all by any rogue African government.

We ask that all decent human beings join us in being our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers. As they protest in Zimbabwe, we ask SADC, the AU and other international bodies to suspend Zimbabwe with immediate effect. We ask too that all countries that respect human and media rights cut all diplomatic ties with a country that respects none.

We demand, instead of keeping Mr Chin’ono arrested, that Zimbabwe prosecute the perpetrators in the Drax scandal, get back coronavirus funds and #FreeHopewellChin’onoNow.

Signed,

  1. Chris Abani
  2. Leila Aboulela
  3. Leye Adenle
  4. Bisi Adjapon
  5. Ama Atta Aidoo
  6. Dami Ajayi
  7. Kofi Akpabli
  8. Richard Ali
  9. d.bi young anitafrika
  10. Barbara Angopa
  11. Ayesha Harruna Attah
  12. Ishmael Beah
  13. TJ Benson
  14. Nikiwe Bikitsha
  15. Malungile Booi
  16. Jessemusse Cacinda
  17. Maxine Case
  18. Efemia Chela
  19. Panashe Chigumadzi
  20. Shadreck Chikoti
  21. Lynsey Chutel
  22. Justin Clement
  23. Nana Awere Damoah
  24. Tolu Daniel
  25. CA Davids
  26. Nadia Davids
  27. Philippa Yaa de Villiers
  28. Bazukile Diko
  29. Dilman Dila
  30. Raoul Djimeli
  31. Edwige Dro
  32. Ekow Duker
  33. Chikè Frankie Edozien
  34. Mona Eltahawy
  35. Kalaf Epalanga
  36. Virgilia Ferrão
  37. Paula Fray
  38. Macharia Gaitho
  39. Xolisa  Guzula
  40. Anton Harber
  41. Abubakar Adam Ibrahim
  42. Eghosa Imasuen
  43. Nozizwe Cynthia Jele
  44. Nyasha Kadandara
  45. Mubanga Kalimamukwento
  46. Aryan Karganof
  47. Caiphus Kgosana
  48. Sihle Khumalo
  49. Nicole Magabo Kiggundu
  50. Mandla Langa
  51. Kinna Likimani
  52. Kwangu wa Liwewe
  53. Max Lobe
  54. Siphiwo Mahala
  55. Angela Makholwa
  56. Nansubuga Jennifer Makumbi
  57. Makwena  Manamela
  58. Napo Masheane
  59. Mohale Mashigo
  60. Mel Matsinhe
  61. Makanaka Mavengere
  62. Nokuthula Mazibuko
  63. Eusebius McKaiser
  64. Zakes Mda
  65. Maaza Mengiste
  66. Ruona  Meyer
  67. Thando Mgqolozana
  68. Niq Mhlongo
  69. Gcina  Mhlope
  70. Lerato Mogoathle
  71. Lebohang Mojapelo
  72. T.O. Molefe
  73. Yara Monteiro
  74. William Moore
  75. Ntshepeng Motema
  76. Sisonke Msimang
  77. Sihle Mthembu
  78. Lindelwa Mtongana
  79. Merdi Mukore
  80. Dumisani Mulenga
  81. Danai Mupotsa
  82. James Murua
  83. Neo Musangi
  84. Tinashe Mushakavanhu
  85. Sitawa Namwalie
  86. Japhet Ncube
  87. Njabulo Ndebele
  88. Mumbo Nduati
  89. Rémy Ngamije
  90. Thembelani Ngenelwa
  91. Kagayi Ngobi
  92. Mukoma wa Ngugi
  93. Masande Ntshanga
  94. Josh Nyapimbi
  95. Natasha Omokhodion-Banda
  96. Dominic Brian Omondi
  97. Yewande Omotoso
  98. Ondjaki
  99. Troy Onyango
  100. Tochi Onyebuchi
  101. Daniel Muta Sango
  102. Mongane Wally Serote
  103. Elma Shaw
  104. Lamelle Shaw
  105. Lola Shoneyin
  106. Veronique Tadjo
  107. Nokuthula Tshabalala
  108. Novuyo Rosa Tshuma
  109. Kola Tubosun
  110. Louise Umutoni
  111. Molara Wood
  112. Zukiswa Wanner

 

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Various co-signatories

0 comments

  1. Maidem 8 August, 2020 at 13:32

    Great one and to the point. I am proud of you guys. Where can I sign and add my voice?

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