Zimbabwe Republic Police officers have reportedly stormed the home of investigative journalist Hopewell Chin’ono and harassed his workers. Chin’ono posted on microblogging site Twitter:
Police and State agents are harassing my workers at home!
MDC Alliance spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere corroborated the reports, through a tweet, saying journalism is not a crime. She wrote:
I’ve been advised that [police] have stormed the home of investigative journo [Hopewell Chin’ono]. It’s unclear what their mission is.
Constitutionally, journalists have the right to freedom of media which includes the protection of their sources.
Chin’ono has been at the forefront in exposing corruption in higher offices, with the “COVIDGATE” scandal being just but one of the cases.
COVIDGATE is a euphemism for the misappropriation of public funds by the Ministry of Health and Child Care when shadowy companies, Drax International and Jaji Investments either received government contracts to supply coronavirus-related medical equipment, or claimed to have donated huge sums of money to the government to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.
The COVIDGATE scandal resulted in the sacking of Health Minister Obediah Moyo.