Mtisi Gift of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights said he is being charged with “lies for lies,” adding that they are pending the full list of charges.
“He is still being detailed and is likely to appear in court on Saturday after spending a night in police custody,” Gift told CNN.
Earlier Friday, Chin’ono posted on his Twitter account that the police had arrested him at home and wrote that he was charged with “communicating untruths”.
Chin’ono was bailed several times in September 2020, after more than a month in prison, in court where he was charged with inciting violence in July ahead of a planned protest against the government – a charge his lawyers deny.
As part of his strict bail conditions, Chin’ono was banned from social media and banned from leaving the capital, Harare.
The second arrest took place in November of the same year, where he was arrested for obstructing the course of justice and for humiliating the country’s National Prosecutor.
The journalist investigated corruption allegations related to the Ministry of Health’s procurement of Covid-19 supplies last year, according to Amnesty International, which accused the Zimbabwean government of using state security forces to silence critics.
Doctors in Zimbabwe routinely complain of inadequate protective equipment in their fight against Covid-19 as cases increase and the country fights a new wave of infections.
After the Christmas holidays, Zimbabwe recorded an increase in Covid-19 infections and deaths, raising fears of an already fragile healthcare system.
The government has urged citizens to abide by the lockdown, which includes movement restrictions for all but the most essential services.
School reopening has been indefinitely delayed following an outbreak of Covid-19 in schools last semester, while shops are only open until 3 p.m. daily.
There is also a curfew from dusk to dawn to avoid nighttime gatherings and events.