Kristenn Einarsson, Chair of the IPA’s Freedom to Publish Committee said: Tsitsi Dangarembga’s sentence is a twisted joke. Two people peacefully holding up placards calling for reform cannot be considered to be inciting public violence and breaching the peace. The sentence may well be suspended, but we fully support Tsitsi in her appeal. Failing to do so, would be to condemn all Zimbabweans to silence.

Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, to which Zimbabwe is a signatory clearly states:

Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.

Tsitsi Dangarembga addressed the IPA General Assembly in 2020 where she spoke compellingly about the evolution of the freedom of expression situation in Zimbabwe. You can see her address here: