HARARE - Three MDC-T youths were remanded on bail until March 10, for allegedly possessing a cartoon of President Robert Mugabe and Reserve Bank Governor, Gideon GonoGift Mlalazi, Mpumulelo Donga and Kevin Ncube have been charged with contravening Section 33 (2)(a)(ii) of the Criminal Law Codification Act, Cap 9.23 Causing Hatred, Contempt or Ridicule of the President. The accused are represented by Lizwe Mlalazi of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR).
The state did not oppose the defences bail application, which was granted on three conditions. Bail was set at $50 for each one of the accused. Besides having to report to Nkulumane Police Station every Friday between 6 am to 6pm, the youths were ordered to reside at their respective addresses until their case is finalized.
At trial, the court will hear that on February 20 one of the accused allegedly picked up the cartoon on the street and showed it to his friends. While they were laughing at it, the accused were apprehended by police and led to the stocks. However, ZLHR lawyer, Lizwe Jamela, argues that, Picking up the caricature on the tarred road does not constitute an offence.
Pathetic don’t you think. Arrested for laughing must be the most stupid thing the police have done in a long time. Why don’t they spend their time looking for the real criminals who are laughing at “THEM” right now?
Pathetic don’t you think. Arrested for laughing must be the most stupid thing the police have done in a long time. Why don’t they spend their time looking for the real criminals who are laughing at “THEM” right now?