The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has urged Zimbabwean authorities to release journalist Faith Zaba, following her arrest for a satirical column on President Emmerson Mnangagwa. Zaba, editor of the Zimbabwe Independent, was charged on July 1 with undermining or insulting the authority of the president, under the Zimbabwean Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act. Conviction could result in a fine, a one-year prison sentence, or both.
Muthoki Mumo, CPJ’s Africa Program Coordinator, criticized the arrest, pointing to Zimbabwe’s “fragile” government and challenging environment for journalists. Zaba’s detainment comes amid increased scrutiny of Zimbabwe’s human rights record. An article by the Zimbabwe Peace Project in 2024 highlighted various human rights breaches attributed mostly to the ruling ZANU-PF party.
Faith Zaba’s prolonged pre-trial detention continues, largely due to procedural delays, such as a power outage affecting the court’s operational schedule, as reported in local news. CPJ’s appeal is coupled with international concern over Zimbabwe’s escalating restrictive policies, including the recent Private Voluntary Organisations Amendment Act 2025, which imposes further limitations on civil society organizations and their operations.