HARARE – The High Court has quashed criminal charges against Zimbabwe Independent editor Faith Zaba and her employer, Alpha Media Holdings (AMH), in a major victory for press freedom.
Zaba, 56, was arrested last year over a satirical article critical of President Emmerson Mnangagwa titled ‘When You Become a Mafia State,’ published in the newspaper’s Muckraker column.
In a ruling delivered at the Harare High Court on Monday, Justice Emilia Muchawa overturned a magistrate’s decision that had dismissed an application to remove Zaba and AMH from remand.
“The application to quash the charges against the accused succeeds,” Muchawa ruled, ordering that the charges be quashed and the accused removed from remand.
The judge said reasons for the decision would be provided later.
Prosecutors had accused Zaba of undermining the authority of the president, alleging the article contained falsehoods intended to incite hostility against the government.
The ruling brings to an end months of legal uncertainty for Zaba, who spent several days in custody following her arrest before being granted bail. She had been jointly charged with her employer and remained on trial until the High Court intervention.
Reacting to the judgement, Zaba thanked those who supported her throughout the ordeal.
“This prosecution should never have happened. It has been almost a year since I was arrested and spent cold, painful nights at Chikurubi Female Prison, stripped of my freedom, dignity and the simple comforts that many of us take for granted,” she said.
“It has been a year of trauma, uncertainty and anxiety; a year of reporting to the police every Friday; and a year of court appearances, postponements and living under the shadow of a criminal prosecution.”
Zaba said journalists are not criminals.
“While I welcome this judgement as a personal vindication, it is also an important victory for media freedom, freedom of expression and the rule of law. No journalist should have to endure arrest, imprisonment and prosecution simply for doing their job.”
Zava thanked her lawyers fellow journalists, human rights defenders and Zimbabweans for standing with her during trial
“Today, I celebrate not only my freedom, but the reaffirmation of a fundamental principle: journalism is not a crime.”
Her arrest came amid growing concern from media and rights groups over what they describe as an escalating crackdown on journalists, opposition figures and civil society activists.
Around the same period, fellow AMH journalist Blessed Mhlanga was arrested after publishing a video of war veteran Blessed Geza, who had publicly called for Mnangagwa’s resignation.
Critics say the government has increasingly relied on criminal prosecutions to silence dissent, particularly as debate intensifies over constitutional changes that could reshape Zimbabwe’s political future.
The government denies targeting critics and maintains that all prosecutions are carried out in terms of the law.
