Zimbabwean High Court judge Justice Musithu has declared the prosecution of freelance journalist Hopewell Chin’ono on charges of incitement to commit public violence through tweets denouncing looting and corruption in 2020 a nullity.
Justice Musithu ruled that the charges lack essential elements and particulars as may be reasonably sufficient to inform the freelance journalist of the nature of the charges he faces.
He explained that the contradiction in the charge sheet and state outline leaves Chin’ono unsure about the offence which he is alleged to have committed.
He was arrested last year for supporting anti-government protests. Chin’ono spent 15 months in jails and courts on trumped up charges.
Justice Musithu concluded by saying the State was on a fishing expedition when it arrested and prosecuted him as charges preferred against him lacked the required particulars.
