Durban - Zimbabwean journalist Hopewell Chin’ono and Transform Zimbabwe leader Jacob Ngarivhume have been arrested in Harare.
Details about the arrest remain sketchy at this stage, but it is believed that police in Harare raided their homes on Monday morning.
In a press statement, the Zimbabwe Republic Police confirmed the arrests of both Chin'ono and Ngarivhume. They say the pair were arrested in connection with allegations relating to the incitement to participate in public violence.
ZRP added that they are in police custody and will appear in court soon.
Chin'ono shared a short clip of his arrest on his Twitter account. The video has been seen more than 49 000 times and has gone viral.
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/daddyhope?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@daddyhope. #FreeHopewell pic.twitter.com/hzhMVVloCR
— Zim Media Review (@ZimMediaReview)
According to newzimbabwe.com, Chin’ono has unsettled Zimbabwean authorities over his reporting on corruption allegedly by Zimbabwean President Mnangagwa’s administration.
It was reported that the Transform Zimbabwe leader Jacob Ngarivhume was also arrested.
The arrests are believed to be linked to planned national demonstrations against corruption scheduled for July 31, which have received massive support from political parties and civic groups.
In a tweet posted via The Zimbabwe Human Rights Association account, ZimRights expressed concern over the arrests.
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/hashtag/STATEMENT?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#STATEMENT: The Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights) notes with concern the arrest of Transform Zimbabwe President Jacob Ngarivhume who is the convener for the 31 July Protest and Journalists Hopewell Chin’ono who has been exposing government corruption on social media. pic.twitter.com/jyYcdh2XvN
— ZimRights (@ZimRights1)
Meanwhile, the tag #FreeHopewell trended on Twitter with many calling for Chin'ono to be released.
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/daddyhope?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@daddyhope’s home and abducted him. The agents did not produce a warrant & the lawyers do not know where they took him. #FreeHopewell pic.twitter.com/5detNLTKT6
— Alex T Magaisa 🇿🇼 (@Wamagaisa)
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/daddyhope?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@daddyhopearrested
We saw a un-uniformed men come into his room
We didn't hear his rights read or charged
They did not identify themselves
They even tried to hide their faces behind a corner
They were extremely hostile
He was abducted. #FreeHopewell
— Baynham Goredema 🇿🇼 (@bayhaus)
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/hashtag/FreeHopewell?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FreeHopewell pic.twitter.com/G98KFdG0Ll
— #FreeHopewell (@ComradeFatsooo)