Charges withdrawn against Mutare journalist

Police in the eastern border town of Mutare have withdrawn criminal nuisance charges against freelance journalist Bernard Chiketo.

This follows an out of court agreement between Chiketo’s lawyer, Passmore Nyakureba of the Media Lawyers Network and the complainants, Mr and Mrs Mukodza.

Chiketo had earlier been summoned for questioning after he took photographs of a house mistakenly thought as belonging to Tawanda Mukodza, a former Zanu PF Youth League provincial chairman for Manicaland. The complainants, who are the owners of the house in question, are distant relatives of the former Zanu PF Youth chairman.

The agreement was made on the understanding that the pictures of the house in question would not be publicised.

Background

Chiketo was first summoned for questioning by police at Hob-House police post in Mutare on 17 January 2013 following a complaint filed by Mrs Mukodza after he took pictures of their house.

The former Zanu PF Youth League provincial chairman is among five members of the party in Manicaland reportedly implicated in a US$750 000 diamond money scam.

Post published in: News

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