A prominent Zimbabwean journalist was detained Wednesday over a satirical article critical of President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Faith Zaba, editor of the Zimbabwe Independent newspaper, faces charges the government says undermine the president’s authority.
The 55-year-old published a piece titled “When you become mafia state” in the weekly tabloid’s muckraker column.
Prosecutors claim the article contains falsehoods aimed at stirring hostility against Mnangagwa, who is 82 years old.
A magistrate court in Harare ordered Zaba’s detention until Thursday, when a bail decision will be made.
Her lawyer expressed disappointment that she must spend a second night in jail despite having an illness.
Rights groups say Zimbabwe has increasingly cracked down on civil society and weaponised laws to silence critics.
Earlier this year, a journalist was jailed for over 70 days after airing an interview with a Mnangagwa critic.
The Zimbabwe Union of Journalists condemned the “criminalisation of journalism” and demanded Zaba’s immediate release.
They stressed that satirical commentary, whether critical or humorous, is protected speech and must not be punished.
The Media Alliance of Zimbabwe said the arrest showed press freedom was “becoming more and more disrespected.”
Amnesty International called the detention part of a broader effort to stifle free press through the justice system.
“Journalism is not a crime,” said Amnesty’s Khanyo Farise, urging authorities to stop harassment and intimidation.
Zimbabwe ranks 106th out of 180 countries on the Reporters Without Borders press freedom index.
The arrest casts a shadow over media rights in a nation struggling between democratic promise and repression.
