Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights’ Obey Shava said, “I visited Hopewell and Ngarivhume. They’re mentally tough, sharp, clear and focused.
Hopewell Chin’ono, a freelance journalist and critic of the government, was charged with inciting violence last month, together with opposition politician Jacob Ngarivhume.
Chin’ono is expected to appear at Rottenrow Magistrates Court on 12 August at 09:00 hours for his bail hearing.
South Africa said it was concerned by reports of rights violations in its neighbour and its international relations minister had spoken to Zimbabwean foreign minister about the issue.
On Tuesday, the office of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed two new special envoys to Zimbabwe – veteran politicians Sydney Mufamadi and Baleka Mbete – “following recent reports of difficulties that the Republic of Zimbabwe is experiencing”. On Tuesday they all met with President Mnangagwa and failed to meet the opposition and civic groups.
Zimbabwe’s government said allegations of human rights abuses were false and there was no crisis in Zimbabwe.
“Neither has there been any abduction or ‘war’ on citizens,” government spokesman Nick Mangwana said in a statement.
Judge Tawanda Chitapi upheld the ruling of a lower court that denied Chin’ono bail last month. The judge deferred politician Ngarivhume’s bail ruling to Friday.
Human rights lawyers say authorities have arrested dozens of activists over Friday’s protests and abducted and tortured others. The government denies this.
Several activists say they are in hiding from police.
Award-winning novelist Tsitsi Dangarembga, who is free on bail after being arrested on Friday, said Zimbabweans were under a state “chokehold”.
Critics say Mnangagwa is using the cover of a COVID-19 lockdown to silence critics as anger grows over 737% inflation — which has brought back memories of hyperinflation under former President Robert Mugabe a decade ago — a collapsing health sector and shortage of public transport.
In a speech on Tuesday, Mnangagwa said the economy was under attack from local and foreign enemies.
