by Christopher Makaza
MDC-Alliance's spokesperson Fadzai Mahere is being accused by party members of giving too much prominence to freelance journalist, Hopewell Chin’ono’s issues more than those of party members.
This came out during a National Standing Committee meeting which was held in Harare on 10 November 2020, where MDC-Alliance Secretary General Chalton Hwende accused Mahere and her communication department of ignoring party members like himself and that party's deputy leader, Karenyi-Kore, who had pending cases before the courts, whilst hyping Chin’ono’s issues.
According to an inside contact, that party's leader Nelson Chamisa, reportedly supported Mahere accusing Hwende of raising unfounded allegations against the communications department.
Chamisa reportedly labeled Hwende as being 'toxic' and causing problems with almost everyone from that party’s Treasury department and the Communications department.
Hwende reportedly threatened to leave the opposition party accusing Chamisa of overprotecting Mahere.
Recently, Mahere has been shouting herself hoarse on social media accusing Government of unfairly handling Chin'ono’s issue.
Journalist and opposition political activist Hopewell Chin’ono, who is facing contempt of court charges and defeating or obstructing the course of justice, was yesterday denied bail by Harare regional magistrate Mrs Marehwanazvo Gofa.
His bail was denied on the grounds that the alleged offences were committed while he was on bail. In opposing bail, the State told the court that Chin’ono was likely to continue committing offences if released as he committed the latest alleged offences while on bail.
Gofa denied Chin’ono bail, saying he has a high propensity to commit offences before remanding the matter to November 26.
Allegations are that between October 25 and 27, Chin’ono used his Twitter account @daddyhope to post messages that impaired the dignity, reputation and authority of the court, and clearly intended to do so.
Chin’ono was already on bail in another matter pertaining to inciting violence ahead of the flopped anti-Government protest that had been planned for July 31. As part of his bail conditions, he was banned from posting on social media.
