Dear Editor,

I’m proud of Hopewell Chin’ono who won a prestigious CNN-sponsored African Journalist of the Year competition for an uncompromising documentary examining his troubled country’s struggle against corruption.

He received the latest award from the Emir (King) of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in the presence of the United Nations Special Advocate for the Prevention of Corruption in December 2022.

This is an important milestone, not just for him, but for country which is struggling to move ahead because of unprecedented looting of public funds and abuse of the judiciary.

Hopewell Chin’ono has dedicate this award to all the victims of corruption in Zimbabwe who have died because there was no medication in hospitals, and the 2,500 women who die annually because there are no maternity theatres, and those who die from cancer because there is no radiotherapy machine.

Chin’ono has been in and out of prison over frivolous charges emanating from just tweeting and exposing corruption. The sad thing is that corruption in Zimbabwe still exists today, because the ongoing arbitrary detention of Citizens Coalition for Change’s MPs Job Sikhala and Godfrey Sithole is unjust and abusive. It has caused unspeakable emotional distress to them and their families. Sikhala and Sithole were arrested on June 14, 2022 after attending the funeral of political activist Moreblessing Ali, who had been missing for three weeks before being found on June 11, 2022 murdered and her body mutilated.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has failed to effectively lead Zimbabwe into prosperity and therefore he should be removed in 2023 votes.

Kudzai Chikowore

Citizens Coalition of Change activist

London, UK

kk5227@hotmail.com