Zimbabwean Journalist Remains Jailed Amid Mounting Concerns Over Press Freedom

March 12, 2025 – Zimbabwe – 

Zimbabwean journalist Jeffrey Moyo continues to languish in police custody as his legal battle drags on, raising international alarm over the state of press freedom in the country. Moyo, known for his reporting with foreign media outlets, was arrested on March 20, 2025, on what rights groups and observers describe as baseless and politically motivated charges.

Authorities accuse Moyo of violating the Immigration Act by allegedly facilitating the illegal accreditation of two New York Times journalists in 2021. That charge, which had been dismissed in a previous trial due to lack of evidence, has been inexplicably revived in a move critics say is meant to intimidate journalists and suppress dissent.

The case was adjourned again on March 26, leaving Moyo detained for an indefinite period. His legal team argues that this prolonged pretrial incarceration, with no clear timeline for resolution, constitutes arbitrary detention. They emphasize that Moyo complied with all legal procedures during the original incident and had already faced months of legal limbo during the first round of charges.

Human Rights Watch and other advocacy organizations have condemned the re-arrest, asserting it reflects a broader crackdown on the media in Zimbabwe under President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Amnesty International have called for Moyo’s immediate release, citing the lack of credible evidence and the chilling effect such prosecutions have on the country’s press corps.

Observers say Moyo’s ordeal is symbolic of Zimbabwe’s deteriorating media climate, where journalists are frequently harassed, arrested, or assaulted for doing their work. The government, meanwhile, maintains that it is upholding the rule of law.

Moyo’s family, colleagues, and local press unions have expressed growing concern about his physical and mental well-being behind bars. Calls for his release have intensified ahead of World Press Freedom Day, with journalists around the region planning vigils and awareness campaigns to spotlight his case.

As the judiciary delays its decision, many fear that Moyo’s continued imprisonment signals a dangerous normalization of silencing independent journalism in Zimbabwe.

Reference – 

https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/03/26/zimbabwe-journalist-held-baseless-charges

https://blackfacts.com/news/article/zimbabwe-journalist-still-in-custody-after-case-adjourned

https://www.voanews.com/a/zimbabwe-journalist-still-in-custody-after-case-adjourned/8008998.html