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Defamation: Zimbabwean Journalist detained for insulting First Lady

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7 years ago

October 3, 2017

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A Zimbabwean journalist identified as Kenneth Nyangani has been detained for having the boldness to write a news story considered as “insulting” the personality of the country’s first lady, Grace Mugabe.

A legal aid group said on Tuesday that Nyangani works for a privately owned Newsday newspaper.

He was said to have been detained late Monday night as his detention has been confirmed by the police spokeswoman, Charity Charamba.

It was gathered that the journalist, Nyangani wrote an article where he alleged that the first lady — a notorious shopper with a penchant for designer goods — had made a charitable donation of clothes, including used undergarments, to supporters of her husband’s Zanu-PF party.

Kumbirai Mafunda, spokesman for Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, the group representing the journalist said on Tuesday that, “We understand police officers are planning on charging him with criminal defamation.”

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Zimbabwe, a South African country, is said to be ranked 128 out of 180 countries in Reporters Without Borders 2017 World Press Freedom Index.

The group survey indicated that the media in the country has been under surveillance with

“oppressive” outburst as both local and foreign journalists face regular arrest.

President Robert Mugabe, has ruled Zimbabwe since 1980 when it had its independence.

Grace has been widely tipped as a possible successor to her 93-year-old husband.