Alpha Media Holdings (AMH) on 10 July 2025 challenged its placement on remand on charges of undermining the authority of or insulting the President.

According to NewsDay, AMH which was represented by its editor-in-chief Kholwani Nyathi, appeared before magistrate Ruth Moyo yesterday.

The company is accused of undermining the authority of or insulting the President through its Muckraker column in a recent edition of the Zimbabwe Independent.

In challenging placement on remand, lawyer Chris Mhike, said the facts of the charges do not disclose an offence.

Mhike said freedom of the media and expression obviates the need to arrest those who express an opinion.

He said the arrest amounted to a restriction on the right of access to information, adding that amounted to violation of the principle of democracy.

“Journalism is not a crime, placing the company on remand means criminalisation of journalism,” he said.

Mhike said the claim of insulting President Emmerson Mnangagwa when the article refers to “we” does not disclose an offence.

“The President is on record saying we are SADC chairperson, so how can the State say it is the President of Zimbabwe  being referred to?”  he asked.

Appearing for the State, Takudzwa Jambawo said the article in question referred to President Mnangagwa.

“It is common cause that the current SADC chairperson is our President and these are the facts the State referred to as insults,” said Jambawo.

“There is reasonable suspicion that they committed an offence and it is not disputed that these words are there in the article.”

Magistrate Moyo postponed the matter to today for ruling on placement on remand.