A Masvingo-based journalist, Matthew Takaona, has been released without charge after being detained by Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officers on Tuesday for allegedly cutting overgrown roadside grass near Mushayavanhu Primary School.
Takaona, a local resident and journalist, was taken into custody at Gutu Police Station after police accused him of impairing road visibility by trimming vegetation along the edges of a tarred road.
However, his lawyer, Collen Maboke of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), intervened after officers tried to compel Takaona to submit a written statement about the incident. Maboke challenged the request, describing it as unprocedural.
Following legal intervention, Takaona was released without any charges being laid against him.
ZLHR confirmed the release and criticised the arrest as unjustified, raising concerns over the continued harassment of citizens engaged in community-driven safety efforts.
Back to top