Almost two years have now passed since Tsitsi Dangarembga, the winner of the 2021 PEN Pinter Prize, was arrested in Zimbabwe. Dangarembga was taking part in a peaceful protest in Harare on 31 July 2020 when she was arrested. She was held overnight before being charged with incitement to commit violence and for breaching anti-coronavirus health regulations on 1 August 2020 and released on bail.

Nearly two years later, Tsitsi Dangarembga remains on trial. Dangarembga’s lawyer filed for discharge on 13 June 2022, and a ruling is expected on 27 June 2022.

PEN continues to call for all charges to be dropped immediately and unconditionally, and for an end to the ongoing judicial harassment of writers, journalists, and other dissenting voices in Zimbabwe.