Zimbabwe Arrests Journalist

Sherman Oaks, CA — A U.S. citizen living in Zimbabwe was arrested for insulting President Robert Mugabe on Friday.

The 25-year-old journalist was detained after making a tweet that read “we are being led by a selfish and sick man”.

She’s been accused of trying to overthrow the government. The U.S. embassy confirmed her arrest and is monitoring the case. Martha O’Donovan works for Magamba Network, which is known for its political satire and comedy.

The Zimbabwe government has taken its social media precautions to new heights by establishing a cybersecurity ministry last month. The 93-year-old Zimbabwean president has been criticized in the past for abuse of power and has held his position since 1980.

O’Donovan is facing charges of subversion and undermining authority or insulting the president. If convicted she could be looking at up to 20 years in jail.

She’s the first person to be detained for such accusations since the start of the cybersecurity ministry. Zimbabwe’s high court has granted her a $1,000 bail saying she had shown a plausible defense.

Some of the conditions of her bail include that she remain in the country, give up her passport and report to the police twice a week until the case is settled.

Meanwhile, Zimbabwe’s vice president and potential successor to the president was fired earlier this week. Many speculate it’s another power move by Mugabe to place his wife in a position to succeed him and continue the Mugabe dynasty.