Prominent Investigative Journalist's Relatives Taken Hostage By Police
Police in Bulawayo on Thursday visited the home of ZimLive editor Mududuzi Mathuthu armed with a warrant of search and seizure.
Mathuthu is being accused of keeping and manufacturing subversive materials and inducing Zimbabweans to engage in public violence on 31 July.
The police officers reportedly arrested three of Mduduzi’s nephews: Amandlenkosi Mathuthu, Advent Mathuthu and Tawanda Muchehiwa.
They then took away Mathuthu’s sister as a hostage after they failed to locate him. Below is the warrant of search and seizure produced by police at Mathuthu’s home.
WARRANT OF SEARCH AND SEIZURE
Issued in terms of Section 50(1)(a) of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act (chapter 9:07)
TO: The Peace Officer and other officers of the law proper to the execution of warrants.
Whereas it appears to me,…….
…..(Magistrate), from information received on oath, that there are reasonable grounds for believing that there is in the possession or under the control of MDUDUZI MATHUTHU, at her place of residence or business, cellular phones, computers, cameras, offensive or Subversive material or any material likely to be used during the illegal demonstration and any material used to manufacture any material likely to be used during the demonstration which on reasonable grounds is believed to be concerned in the commission or suspected commission of an offence and are on reasonable grounds believed may afford evidence of the commission or suspected commission of an offence of incitement to participate in public violence as defined in section 187(1)(a)(b) as read with section 36(1)(a)(b) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 9:23.It is suspected that MDUDUZI MATHUTHU of house number [……] Mahatshula North, Bulawayo, (or wherever she might be currently residing) is organizing and advocating for illegal demonstrations against the Government of Zimbabwe pencilled for the 31st of July 2020.
He is believed to be communicating with Zimbabweans through his cellular phone(s) and other various means, intending by the communication to persuade or induce Zimbabweans to engage in public violence. Furthermore, he is believed to be manufacturing, storing and distributing to members of the public, some materials for use during the illegal demonstrations on or about 31 July 2020.
To that end, you are authorized to search the person identified in this warrant, his residential and business premises and any person found in or upon those premises, and to seize her cellphone(s) and sim cards(s), computers, cameras, offensive and subversive material or any material likely to be used during the illegal demonstration and any material used to manufacture any such material.
This warrant shall be executed by day only.
