By Promise Dube
Journalists and media advocates in Zimbabwe have raised alarm over the arrest of Zimbabwe Independent editor Faith Zaba, warning that the use of colonial-era “insult laws” is part of a growing pattern of intimidation against the press.
Zaba was arrested on 1 July 2025 under Section 33 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act for allegedly “undermining the authority of the President” in a satirical opinion column published in the weekly paper. She was detained for three nights before being granted bail under strict conditions by a Harare magistrate.
Speaking during a panel discussion on This Morning on Asakhe, journalists described the arrest as a serious setback for media freedom and called for the urgent repeal of Section 33.
Nigel Nyamutumbu, from the Media Alliance of Zimbabwe, said the law being used against Zaba has its roots in the repressive Law and Order Maintenance Act (LOMA), which was used during colonial Rhodesia to silence black political movements.
“The intention of that law was to suppress dissent,” Nyamutumbu said. “It was retained under the Public Order and Security Act, and now survives as Section 33. Its purpose remains the same: to intimidate.”
Nyamutumbu noted that although the High Court has expressed concern about the vagueness of such laws, the Constitutional Court has yet to provide a definitive ruling on their legality.
Njabulo Ncube, coordinator of the Zimbabwe National Editors Forum (ZINEF), described Zaba’s arrest as part of a broader crackdown. He said over 300 citizens had recently been charged under similar insult provisions, most of whom were later released without trial.
“It’s clear these laws are being used to harass journalists,” Ncube said. “They create fear and uncertainty in newsrooms, especially for those reporting on politics or corruption.”
Ncube also criticised the increasing criminalisation of journalism, pointing to recent detentions of other media practitioners, including Blessed Mhlanga of HSTV, who spent 73 days in remand earlier this year.
Karen Mukwasi, a journalist and activist with the PADA Platform, warned that Zaba’s arrest could deter women from joining or staying in the media industry. Zaba is one of just two female editors of a major newspaper in Zimbabwe.
“This is two steps back for women in media,” Karen said. “We already have a problem, only 30% of newsroom staff are women, and incidents like this push more of them toward PR or communications instead of hard news reporting.”
Karen added that such incidents reinforce a perception that it is unsafe for women to take on senior editorial or investigative roles.
The panelists agreed that the arrest highlights the urgent need for media law reform in Zimbabwe. They called for the repeal of Section 33 and greater legal protection for journalists, including those using satire to criticise those in power.
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