Hopewell Chin’ono Ceases Reporting On Aljazeera Documentary After Threats From Mnangagwa’s Spokesperson
Journalist Hopewell Chin’ono has said he will no longer be commenting in the Aljazeera documentary after receiving threats from a top government official.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s spokesman George Charamba has warned that “there is a limit to provocation we can take”, raising the prospect of media arrests over the reporting of the Al Jazeera ‘Gold Mafia‘ documentary series.
Chin’ono said he now fears for his safety;
Ladies and Gentlemen,
After these continued threats from President Mnangagwa’s spokesman against journalists reporting on the Al Jazeera investigation findings, I won’t be reporting on this story for my own safety.
George Charamba has made clear the consequences if we continue.
The Qatar-based satellite channel is running a four-part documentary series exposing a gold mafia with alleged links to top government officials and reportedly using the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe to launder the proceeds.
A clip from the second part scheduled for broadcast this Thursday features ex-convict and gold dealer Ewan Macmillan claiming to business links to President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Charamba, using one of his Twitter handles then warned; “Vamwe vanhu tichavigira sadza kuboma; farisai muchidaro. Munonovaraidzana naSikhala manje manje. There is a limit to provocation we can take.”
He says much of the reporting from Aljazeera amounts to slandering and may lead to legal action against those who continue reporting on the documentary.
FRIENDLY ADVICE TO ALL RECKLESS JOURNALISTS: Al-Jazeera is not a court of law before whose claims impart privileges to defamatory utterances. It is merely some weaponised channel. If you are reckless enough to repeat what its phoney documentary defamatorily says, hoping to plead: “I heard/saw it on Al Jazeera”, you will be sorry for yourself. Do not for once think there is no grit to act against reckless, defamatory and politically motivated journalism. Faceless Twitter names egging you on will not be a factor when brickbats come. Be warned!
“I heard/saw it on Al Jazeera”, you will be sorry for yourself. Do not for once think there is no grit to act against reckless, defamatory and politically motivated journalism. Faceless Twitter names egging you on will not be a factor when brickbats come. Be warned!
— Tinoedza Zvimwe (@Tinoedzazvimwe1) March 29, 2023
Hopewell Chin’ono Ceases Reporting On Aljazeera Documentary After Threats From Mnangagwa’s Spokesperson
