Faith Zaba, ZimInd Editor
By Dickson Bandera
The Zimbabwe Union of Journalists (ZUJ) has strongly condemned the arrest and detention of Zimbabwe Independent editor Faith Zaba by the Zimbabwe Republic Police, describing it as a violation of journalistic freedom and a betrayal of government promises to promote media openness.
Zaba was arrested by Law and Order officers this Tuesday over a satirical Muckraker column published in the Zimbabwe Independent last Friday. The police claims the piece “undermined the authority” of the President, but ZUJ maintains that the arrest criminalises legitimate editorial content and sets a dangerous precedent.
“As a Union, we are deeply disturbed by the criminalisation of journalism over editorial content that falls squarely within the boundaries of journalistic expression and satire,” ZUJ said in a statement. “Satirical commentary, whether critical or humorous, is protected speech and should not be criminalised.”
ZUJ’s concerns are heightened by the fact that Zaba’s arrest comes barely weeks after President Emmerson Mnangagwa launched a new Media Policy, which pledges to create a free, tolerant, and open media environment in Zimbabwe. The union warned that this latest incident runs “counter to the spirit and commitments of this policy” and risks undermining public confidence in the government’s reform agenda.
In addition to the press freedom concerns, ZUJ expressed alarm over Zaba’s physical well-being, stating that she was detained overnight despite suffering from a serious illness — a condition that had reportedly been medically confirmed.
“This raises grave concerns about her health, safety, and the proportionality of the actions taken by law enforcement,” the union said.
ZUJ called for the immediate and unconditional release of Faith Zaba and reaffirmed its commitment to defending the rights of journalists in Zimbabwe.
“We stand with Zaba and with every journalist in Zimbabwe who works fearlessly to inform the public and uphold the principles of truth, justice, and objectivity,” the statement added.