Online Reporter
JOURNALIST Gideon Madzikatidze has been remanded in custody after appearing before the Harare Magistrates Court on charges of cyberbullying and broadcasting without a licence.
Madzikatidze, who is employed by Bulawayo24.com, appeared before Magistrate Ruth Moyo, who postponed the matter to 23 February for a bail hearing.
The charges relate to an article published on the Bulawayo24 website between 15 and 16 December 2025 titled “Geo-Pomona Boss Bribes Journalists, Editors To Evade Scrutiny.”
According to the charge sheet, the State alleges that during the period in question the accused “posted on electronic media a news article” on the Bulawayo24 News website and “broadcasted the article knowing that he is not licenced to do internet broadcasting in terms of the Broadcasting Services Act [Chapter 12:06].”
In Count One, the complainant is the State. Prosecutors contend that the accused’s conduct in publishing and broadcasting the article without the requisite licence was unlawful.
In Count Two, the complainant is Geo-Pomona Waste Management, represented in court by Dorothea Moyo. The company alleges the publication amounted to cyberbullying.
The charge sheet states that the message broadcast by the accused was “designed to intimidate, harass, bully and cause substantial emotional distress, and degrade and humiliate the Geo-Pomona Waste Management Company and its Chief Executive Officer in his person.”
The State maintains that “the accused person’s conduct was unlawful.”
Madzikatidze remains in custody pending his bail application later this month.
