ZimInd Editor, Faith Zaba, Breaks Silence After Arrest and Detention

Zimbabwe Independent Editor Faith Zaba has expressed heartfelt gratitude to her legal team, colleagues, family, and a broad network of supporters, both local and international, following her arrest and detention earlier this month.

Zaba was taken into custody on 1 July 2025 after voluntarily presenting herself to police, despite being unwell and receiving medical treatment.

The arrest, which stemmed from a satirical column titled “When You Become a Mafia State”, sparked national and international outrage over press freedom in Zimbabwe.

The State allege that her column was designed to erode public confidence in President Emmerson Mnangagwa and incite hostility among citizens.

After spending three nights in remand prison, Zaba was released on 4 July on US$200 bail.

In a recent statement, Zaba recounted the emotional and physical toll of the experience, describing it as a terrifying ordeal that tested her strength.

She paid special tribute to her lawyer, Chris Mhike, for not only providing legal representation but also offering unwavering emotional and spiritual support throughout her incarceration. Wrote Zaba:

When I was arrested and thrown into a terrifying ordeal, Chris didn’t just represent me, he stood with me.

At every turn, he went far beyond the call of duty. He fought tirelessly to secure my bail.

But what set him apart was how deeply he cared, not just for me, but for my family.

Chris counselled my children, when they could have broken down from the weight of the trauma following my arrest and incarceration.

He prayed with me at Rotten Row Magistrates Court cells and my family. He was their pillar when I couldn’t be.

Zaba also thanked the Media Institute of Southern Africa – Zimbabwe Chapter, the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, and other advocacy groups that stepped in to defend her rights and condemn what she described as a gross injustice.

To her mentees, she offered a message of hope and resilience, saying their messages reminded her that the fight for press freedom and accountability is much bigger than any one individual. She said:

You reminded me that this journey is bigger than me. Thank you for standing with me. Thank you for believing in me. You inspire me to keep going, to keep fighting, and to keep mentoring with purpose.

Zaba was particularly moved by the solidarity shown by fellow journalists and colleagues.

She praised the media fraternity for their public support, courtroom presence, and advocacy that reinforced the message that journalism is not a crime.

She also extended her appreciation to local, regional, and international organisations for standing in her corner, saying their condemnation of her arrest gave her strength during uncertain times. Said Zaba:

Your voice, added to many others, became a shield around me, a clear message that the world was watching and that no injustice goes unnoticed.

Your solidarity reminded me that the fight for freedom of expression is global, and no one walks it alone.

Zaba did not forget the prison officers and fellow inmates she encountered at Harare Remand and Chikurubi Female and Maximum Prisons.

She said their prayers, encouragement, and celebratory cheers when her bail was granted were a source of comfort and strength.