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Fri, Mar

Africa News
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A High Court in Zimbabwe has granted a United States journalist, Martha O'Donovan bail after being charged for subversion and insulting President Robert Mugabe on social media. The court which gave the ruling in her absence said she should pay $1,000 bail on the grounds that the state failed to exhibit the contents of the alleged tweets calling on people to protest against the government.


Her lawyer, Obey Shava of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, a legal NGO, has since commended the judge for granting his client bail.


"I am very happy that justice has been done, I'm glad that my client has been vindicated because we have always argued that she was a perfect candidate for bail."


The journalist until her arrest was an employee of Magamba TV, an online channel that prides itself as a leading creator of political satire. O'Donovan who works as a programme associate was arrested last week after she posted a tweet describing President Mugabe as a 'goblin'.


Apart from subversion, she was charged with an attempt to overthrow a constitutionally elected president. In Zimbabwe, charges bordering on subversion carry a 20-year prison sentence.

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