Harare magistrate Vongai Muchuchuti withdrew charges against diamond researcher Farai Maguwu after the state presented a document from the Attorney Generals office giving instructions to drop the charges.
While we are thrilled that the charges against Farai Maguwu have been withdrawn, we remain concerned about persistent harassment of human rights defenders in Zimbabwe, including restrictions to their ability to exercise their rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly, Michelle Kagari, Amnestys deputy director for Africa said in a statement released from the groups London headquarters.
Maguwu, whose Centre for Research and Development (CRD) has exposed smuggling and other illegal activities at the controversial Marange diamond mines, was last June arrested and charged with communicating false statements prejudicial to the state after he allegedly wrote reports detailing rights abuses by security forces at the diamond field.
He was arrested days after he met Kimberley Process monitor Abbey Chikane who was in the country to assess whether operations at Marange complied with the world diamond industry watchdogs standards. He was held in detention for five weeks before he was finally released on bail in mid-July.
Post published in: Politics