Jailed journalist addresses ‘unconstitutional’ law

Zimbabwean journalist Hopewell Chin'ono has vowed to fight for his freedom of expression. He was first arrested in July for backing banned protests against alleged state corruption. A report on the News24 site notes that the investigative journalist was re-arrested in November after tweeting about a gold smuggling case involving political elites. He was jailed a third time last week for posting a video showing a police officer beating a baby. He said he has chosen to fight ‘the constitutionality of the law used to charge me’. Chin'ono, who has been charged with inciting violence, obstructing justice and publishing false information claims the charges fall under an ‘unconstitutional’ law. ‘Constitutionally he cannot be convicted on a law that does not exist,’ defence lawyer Harrison Nkomo told AFP.