Award winning Zimbabwe journalist, Faith Zaba (Zimbabwe Independent Editor) begins recounting the details of her arrest and subsequent detention. She describes her 33-year career in media, noting she has faced sexual harassment, intimidation, and surveillance, but calls her recent arrest the “most traumatic experience” of her life.
Here is a summary of her statement from that segment:
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Initial Warning: She was first informed on a Sunday that authorities were unhappy with her reporting, which she initially brushed off as routine intimidation. However, on Tuesday at 6:00 AM, she was alerted that police were looking for her address.
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The Arrest: Suffering from a severe illness at the time, she went to the police station around 2:00 PM with her lawyer, Chris Mhike, hoping to negotiate on health grounds. Instead, at shortly before 6:00 PM, she was officially informed she was under arrest. She describes the moment as hitting her “like a hammer,” feeling as though she left her body due to the shock and concern for her health.
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Police Cells: She spent the night in filthy police cells, something she had written about but never expected to experience. Realizing she would likely be sent to Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison and denied bail, she gave herself a “pep talk,” resolving not to let her captors see her break down.
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Court Appearance: Zaba describes putting on a “brave face” in court, smiling and laughing to protect her family from her own pain. She recalls a magistrate even commenting that she didn’t look like someone facing imprisonment. Deep down, however, she was questioning why she was there, having committed no crime.
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Prison Conditions: She details the horrific conditions at Chikurubi Prison, describing it as the “coldest week of the month.” She slept on hard concrete in a cell with 60 other women and only one non-flushing toilet. She feared she might die overnight due to her deteriorating health.
