Journalist Acquitted On Violation Of Coronavirus Lockdown Charges
NewsDay journalist Rex Mphisa and Zimpapers sales representative Charles Marerwa were on 27 August 2020 found not guilty on charges of violating the COVID-19 regulations when they appeared before Magistrate Ania Chimweta.
Magistrate Chimweta ruled that the State had failed to prove beyond any reasonable doubt that the two had violated the regulations.
Mphisa and Marerwa were arrested on 15 May 2020 in Dulivhadzimu, in Zimbabwe’s southern border town of Beitbridge.
They were charged with contravening Section 5 (1) as read with Section 4 of Statutory Instrument 83 of 2020 of the COVID-19 regulations which prohibit the gathering of more than two people in a public place.
They were also being charged with contravening the Liquor Act which prohibits public drinking.
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Mphisa and Marerwa, who were on free bail, were represented by lawyer Jabulani Mzinyathi, who was engaged by MISA Zimbabwe.
Meanwhile, thousands of more people have so far been arrested for violation of the lockdown regulations that were imposed on the country to curb the spread and transmission of the coronavirus.
Zimbabwe recently witnessed a surge in the number of coronavirus cases both local transmission and returnees mainly from neighbouring South Africa.
More: MISA Zimbabwe
