A popular Kadoma-based TikToker has appeared in court facing cyberbullying charges following allegations that she harassed and threatened a freelance journalist.
Leona Rutendo Zinhu appeared before a Kadoma magistrate on Tuesday after allegedly sending intimidating messages to journalist Priscilla Zengeni on January 4, 2026. The matter was remanded to January 26, 2026, for trial.
Zinhu was released from custody, but the court ordered that her mobile phones be seized for forensic analysis and cyber tracing in Harare.
According to court papers, Zinhu allegedly sent threatening messages that contravened provisions of the Cyber and Data Protection Act, warning the journalist against pursuing a story linked to a domestic violence case involving her family.
The complainant, Zengeni, was investigating a domestic violence report (CR 158/12/25) in which Zinhu’s husband, Blessed Chari, a well-known businessman, allegedly assaulted his wife during a domestic dispute. Zinhu, who is reportedly Chari’s second wife, is accused of threatening the journalist and cautioning her to stay out of what she described as personal matters.
It is further alleged that Zinhu warned Zengeni that any attempt to report the threats to authorities would be futile.
Following the reported threats, Zengeni filed a police report, leading to Zinhu’s arrest.
The case will return to court later this month as investigations continue.
