Warrant issued by a magistrate on Martha O’Donovan shows no one is safe

Below is a search warrant, which was granted on Thursday 02 November 2017 by Harare Magistrate Elisha Singano for police to confiscate Martha O’Donovan, an American citizen, who works for Magamba TV. She was arrested for retweeting a tweet on her profile during the recently held Shoko Festival, which referred to a certain Goblin, whose wife and stepsons imported a Rolls Royce vehicle. 

The warrant shows that police can surveil one without their knowledge.

Read it below:

Issued in terms of Section 49 (b) A.R.W.S 50 (1) and in terms of section 288 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act  (Chapter 9:07).

To the Peace Officer and other officers of the law proper to the execution of Warrants.

Where from information taken upon oath before myself, there are reasonable for believing that Martha O’Donovan of 316W Charingira Court, Harare using internet Protocol (IP) address 14.85.192.118, committed the act of UNDERMINING AUTHORITY OF OR INSULTING PRESIDENT AS DEFINED IN SECTION 33 (2) (b) OF THE CRIMINAL LAW [CODIFICATION AND REFORM] ACT, CHAPTER 9:23.

Section 50 reads:-

Subsection (1) subject to section 52 and 53, an article referred to in section 49 shall be seized by warrant issued:-

a) by the magistrate or Justice, if it appears to the magistrate or justice from information; on oath that there are reasonable grounds for believing that any such article is in possession or under the control of any person, or upon or in any premise or area, within his area of jurisdiction {Amended by Section 44 of Act 1 of 2002 with effect from January 22, 2002}.

It is therefore directed that Martha O’Donovan releases or provides the following to the Police for investigation purposes:-

i) gadgets in her possession in the form of computers, cell phones and any electronic devices.

These are therefore in the State’s name to command you to proceed to316W Charingira Court, Harare and there from immediately obtain and take into your custody the mentioned documents or records and take them to a police station or place of safe, until the matter is finalised.