Zimbabwean journalist held 35 days. CPJ demands release

Freelance journalist Gideon Madzikatidze has now spent 35 days in detention without trial, prompting renewed calls for his release from international media watchdogs.

The Committee to Protect Journalists has urged Zimbabwean authorities to free Madzikatidze, who was arrested on February 18, 2026, on charges of cyberbullying and broadcasting without a licence. The charges stem from an online article published on Bulawayo24, in which he allegedly accused Geo Pomona Waste Management of bribing journalists and editors.

Madzikatidze is currently being held at Harare Central Prison and is expected to appear in court on April 9, when trial dates are set to be determined.

According to CPJ, the continued detention without trial raises serious concerns about press freedom and due process. "CPJ calls for the release of Zimbabwean journalist Gideon Madzikatidze," the organisation said, highlighting the length of his detention and the nature of the charges linked to his reporting.

If convicted, Madzikatidze faces up to 10 years in prison under the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act for cyberbullying, as well as an additional penalty under the Broadcasting Services Act. Media rights groups, including the Media Institute of Southern Africa Zimbabwe, have questioned the use of broadcasting laws in a case involving content published solely on a website.

Madzikatidze's lawyer, Godwin Giya, confirmed that efforts to secure bail have so far failed. After initial delays at the Harare Magistrates Court due to court scheduling issues, bail was denied on March 2. A subsequent appeal to the High Court was dismissed on March 23, with no reasons provided.

The defence has since indicated it will request written reasons for the High Court's decision.

A source familiar with the case said authorities' decision to invoke the Broadcasting Services Act remains unclear, given that the alleged offence relates to an online publication rather than traditional broadcasting.

Efforts to obtain comment from Dorothea Moyo, legal representative for Geo Pomona, and police spokesperson Paul Nyathi were unsuccessful.

The case is increasingly being viewed as a test of Zimbabwe's legal framework governing digital journalism, with its outcome likely to have broader implications for media practitioners operating online.