Veteran Journalist Detained By “Ferrets” Over Grass Cutting, Vows To Return

Veteran journalist and former parliamentary candidate Matthew Takaona was briefly detained on Tuesday in what appears to have been a politically motivated arrest by suspected state security agents. Takaona, who runs The Masvingo Mirror and contested Gutu Central for the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) in the 2023 general elections, was taken by a group of five men allegedly led by the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO), calling themselves "Ferrets". According to The Masvingo Mirror, Takaona was picked up near Mushayavanhu Primary School, where he had been helping to clear grass from a dangerous roadside black spot. The area had become a safety hazard, particularly for schoolchildren. He was released later that evening after police failed to find any lawful grounds to charge him. The initial accusation, reportedly instigated by local councillor Benson Dandira, centred on Takaona's alleged failure to notify the councillor before cutting the grass. However, lawyers dismissed the allegation as baseless, saying no law requires citizens to seek permission from local officials to carry out voluntary community safety work. Desperate to press charges, police brought in senior officials from the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) for guidance. Yet, after a lengthy meeting between police, EMA, and CIO operatives, it was agreed that there was no legal basis for Takaona's arrest. In what appeared to be an attempt to save face, the police asked Takaona to write a statement before releasing him. His legal team, Collen Maboke, Grace Bwanya, and Martin Mureri, objected, insisting that if police had a case, they should formally charge their client. Following further consultations with their superiors, police ultimately backed down and let Takaona go without charge. During the ordeal, Takaona was allegedly harassed by the CIO agents. He said he was forced to abandon his car, unlocked and unguarded, by the roadside at the time of arrest. The CIO operatives reportedly attempted to seize his phone and bundled him into a small Honda Fit, where he was wedged between two men in the back seat and guarded by three agents throughout the day. There are also claims that one woman assisting in the grass cutting had US$300 taken from under her phone cover during the arrest. The CIO agents allegedly confiscated her phone, and the money was later found to be missing. Speaking after his release, Takaona said his only "crime" was caring about road safety and the welfare of schoolchildren. He vowed to return on Thursday to continue clearing the roadside, undeterred by the day-long ordeal. More: Masvingo Mirror

6/4/2025 10:26:58 AM

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Veteran Journalist Detained By “Ferrets” Over Grass Cutting, Vows To Return

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