State drops charges against NewsDay journalists arrested for publishing story claiming CIOs received bonuses before everyone

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) yesterday withdrew criminal charges against Nqaba Matshazi (NewsDay deputy editor) and Xolisani Ncube (reporter) who were arrested for publishing a story claiming that officials from the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) received their December 2015 bonuses before the rest of the public service got their December salaries.

The journalists had filed a constitutional challenge at the Constitutional Court (ConCourt) against section 31(1)(ii) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act. However, NewsDay lawyers, Taona Nyamakura and Mzo Mbuyiso of Mtetwa & Nyambirai Legal Practitioners submitted that the State had withdrawn the charges against the journalists.

The Prosecutor-General and Attorney-General’s representatives, Editor Mavuto and Vernanda Munyoro confirmed the lawyers’ submissions and indicated that the administrative withdrawal of criminal charges against the journalists will be done at the magistrates’ court.

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