By Evidence Chipadza
The arrest of veteran journalist Faith Zaba has amplified deepening fears over the rapid erosion of press freedom in Zimbabwe. Journalists and media professionals are increasingly finding themselves operating in a hostile environment, where intimidation, censorship, and arbitrary arrests are becoming disturbingly routine—posing a grave threat to democratic values and the public’s right to access information.
Zaba, editor of The Zimbabwe Independent, was arrested on 1 July 2025 and charged with “undermining the authority of or insulting the President”. This followed the publication of a satirical piece titled “When You Become a Mafia State” in the newspaper’s Muckraker column.
The column delivered pointed, satirical criticism of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s leadership and Zimbabwe’s recent appointment as chair of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), which it likened to a “trade union of dictators.”
Authorities claim that Zaba’s article violated Section 33(2)(a)(i) of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act—a law rights activists argue is both vague and outdated, often used to stifle dissent.
International human rights group Amnesty International has denounced the arrest, urging the Zimbabwean government to release Zaba immediately and withdraw all charges. Amnesty stressed that journalists must be allowed to perform their duties freely and without fear of persecution, reminding authorities of their obligation to uphold both the national constitution and international human rights standards.
The case of Faith Zaba is more than a legal matter—it is a stark reflection of the shrinking space for critical journalism in Zimbabwe. It highlights the pressing need to defend media independence, not criminalise it.
