Hopewell Chin'ono Zimbabwe

Photo: Hopewell Chin’ono / Twitter

Victory for Hopewell Chin’ono! Journalist beats Zimbabwe government in court

Hopewell Chin’ono has had one of his convictions overturned on Wednesday – and he now plans to take legal action against the government of Zimbabwe.

Hopewell Chin'ono Zimbabwe

Photo: Hopewell Chin’ono / Twitter

Renowned journalist Hopewell Chin’ono has had a criminal charge filed against him by the state officially quashed on Wednesday, vindicating the Zimbabwe-born reporter’s decision to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

Who is Hopewell Chin’ono?

Chin’ono, aged 50, has been detained three times since he backed banned anti-government protests on social media in July, when he was first arrested and charged with inciting public violence.

Two tweets landed him back in jail for allegedly obstructing justice in November and then publishing false information in January. The High Court of Zimbabwe dismissed the latter charge on Wednesday, declaring it had no legal basis.

Hopewell Chin’ono fought the law – and HE won!

As one would expect, Hopewell Chin’ono was left overjoyed by the decision, hailing his lawyers for presenting such a compelling case in his favour. According to the award-winning journo, his conviction was based on an expired law.

“On 8 January I was arrested for falsehoods – and accused of something I NEVER did. I was charged using a law that doesn’t exist, as part of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s continued political persecution of myself! I spent 20 days in prison. Today, the High Court judge Justice Charehwa has stopped that case. It has been quashed!

“The judge ruled that the law used to charge me is no longer part of our constitution. The criminal proceedings in the magistrates court for this case are no more. I would like to thank Harrison Nkomo and his team for representing me and for exposing my persecution.” | Hopewell Chin’ono

What next for Zimbabwe’s roving reporter?

The journalist was last jailed for posting a video he claimed showed a police officer beating a baby to death – an account that was vehemently denied. In November, Chin’ono was arrested for posting a Tweet ahead of a judicial decision. He is still facing trial for alleged obstruction of justice in that case – but he won’t be going onto the back foot any time soon.

Hopewell Chin’ono, you see, is now planning to sue the state on several charges: