The Chairperson
Moussa Faki Mahamat
African Union Headquarters
P.O.Box 3243
Roosvelt Street W21K19
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia
The Executive Secretary
Dr. Stergomena tax
SADC HOuse
P.Bag 0095
Gaborone
Botswana
Dear Chairperson and Executive Secretary
As writers and journalists of African origin who are connected beyond borders, we state that we condemn the acts of violence on the home of journalist Hopewell Chin’ono. We equally condemn his arrest and subsequent denial of bail.
On 20 July 2020, award-winning Zimbabwean investigative journalist Mr Chin’ono who had, a month before, exposed corruption in the coronavirus-related contracts awarded by the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare to Drax International, tweeted that uniformed police had been questioning his staff. On the same day, uniformed police raided Mr. Chin’ono’s home and arrested him without a warrant. For hours, his whereabouts were unclear. It took the release of footage of the police breaking a glass door at his home and arresting him for the police to admit that they had taken him.
Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Information, outside their mandate, released a charge sheet of Mr. Chin’ono’s arrest via their Twitter account. Despite Mr. Chin’ono’s arrest on 20 July, the charge sheet was dated 21 July. Breaking Zimbabwe’s own laws which requires a person to go to court within 24 hours of arrest, Mr. Chin’ono only appeared in court on unclear charges four days later and was denied bail until 7 August. In contrast, the former Minister of Health, Dr. Obadiah Moyo, who approved the contracts that Mr. Chin’ono exposed, was charged with criminal abuse of office and granted bail within 24 hours of his arrest. Dr. Moyo remains free while Mr. Chin’ono is in jail.
By arresting Hopewell Chin’ono arbitrarily, the Zimbabwean state has contravened the African Charter for Human Rights, in particular Article 6 and Article 14 which Zimbabwe signed and ratified.
We note with dismay the silence of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African Union (AU) at this gross violation of not only Mr. Chin’ono’s human rights, but at this clear intimidation of freedom of the press.
We note too that this is not the first time that individual and press rights have been violated by an AU member state with silence from the mother body. The African Union, an organization that was quick to tell the world that #BlackLivesMatter in the wake of George Floyd’ murder and other human rights abuses by police in the United States, seems strangely silent about the violation of Black Lives in Africa.
We fear that as long as Zimbabwe continues to violate its citizens’ rights with impunity, we and fellow writers and journalists are in danger of having our rights violated in the different AU member states while the mother body stays silent. An injury to a Zimbabwean journalist for doing their job by the Zimbabwean state thus becomes a potential injury to us all by any rogue African government.
We ask that all decent human beings join us in being our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers. As they protest in Zimbabwe, we ask SADC, the AU, and other international bodies to suspend Zimbabwe with immediate effect. We ask too that all countries that respect human and media rights cut all diplomatic ties with a country that respects none.
We demand, instead of keeping Mr. Chin’ono arrested, that Zimbabwe prosecute the perpetrators in the Drax scandal, get back coronavirus funds and #FreeHopewellChin’onoNow
Signed
Chris Abani
Leila Aboulela
Sulaiman Addonia
Leye Adenle
Bisi Adjapon
Ama Atta Aidoo
Dami Ajayi
Kofi Akpabli
Richard Ali
d.bi young anitafrika
Barbara Angopa
Ayesha Harruna Attah
Ishmael Beah
TJ Benson
Nikiwe Bikitsha
Malungile Booi
Jessemusse Cacinda
Maxine Case
Efemia Chela
Panashe Chigumadzi
Shadreck Chikoti
Lynsey Chutel
Justin Clement
Nana Awere Damoah
Tolu Daniel
CA Davids
Nadia Davids
Philippa Yaa de Villiers
Bazukile Diko
Dilman Dila
Raoul Djimeli
Edwige Dro
Ekow Duker
Chikè Frankie Edozien
Mona Eltahawy
Kalaf Epalanga
Virgilia Ferrão
Paula Fray
Macharia Gaitho
Pumla Dineo Gqola
Xolisa Guzula
Anton Harber
Abubakar Adam Ibrahim
Eghosa Imasuen
Nozizwe Cynthia Jele
Nyasha Kadandara
Mubanga Kalimamukwento
Parselelo Kantai
Aryan Karganof
Caiphus Kgosana
Sihle Khumalo
Nicole Magabo Kiggundu
Mandla Langa
Kinna Likimani
Kwangu wa Liwewe
Max Lobe
Siphiwo Mahala
Angela Makholwa
Nansubuga Jennifer Makumbi
Makwena Manamela
Napo Masheane
Mohale Mashigo
Mel Matsinhe
Makanaka Mavengere
Nokuthula Mazibuko
Eusebius McKaiser
Zakes Mda
Maaza Mengiste
Ruona Meyer
Thando Mgqolozana
Niq Mhlongo
Gcina Mhlope
Lerato Mogoathle
Lebohang Mojapelo
Natalia Molebatsi
T.O. Molefe
Yara Monteiro
William Moore
Ntshepeng Motema
Sisonke Msimang
Sihle Mthembu
Lindelwa Mtongana
Merdi Mukore
Dumisani Mulenga
Danai Mupotsa
James Murua
Neo Musangi
Tinashe Mushakavanhu
Richard Ali Mutu
Sitawa Namwalie
Japhet Ncube
Njabulo Ndebele
Mumbo Nduati
Rémy Ngamije
Thembelani Ngenelwa
Kagayi Ngobi
Bongani Ngqulunga
Mukoma wa Ngugi
Masande Ntshanga
Josh Nyapimbi
Natasha Omokhodion-Banda
Dominic Brian Omondi
Yewande Omotoso
Ondjaki
Troy Onyango
Tochi Onyebuchi
Daniel Muta Sango
Mongane Wally Serote
Elma Shaw
Lamelle Shaw
Lola Shoneyin
Veronique Tadjo
Nokuthula Tshabalala
Novuyo Rosa Tshuma
Kola Tubosun
Louise Umutoni
Molara Wood
Zukiswa Wanner