Freelance journalist Annie Mpalume who was arrested and detained on allegations of breaching the Protected Areas Act was granted US$ 30 bail by Mutare Magistrate Fechete on 12 October 2009. Mpalume who is being represented by Chris Ndlovu, was remanded out of custody to 26 October 2009 on allegations of breaching the Protected Areas Act by entering a protected area without a pass.
She was arrested on 8 October 2009 in Manicaland provinces Chiadzwa diamond fields on allegations of entering a protected area without a pass. M p alume is a freelance journalist accredited by the now defunct statutory Media and Information Commission (MIC).