HARARE - A legislator in Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's MDC has been charged after allegedly making insulting remarks about President Robert Mugabe.Douglas Mwonzora, Nyanga MP, was arrested when he appeared in Nyanga Magistrates Court in March for his routine remand hearing on separate charges of public violence. Mwonzora, who is also chairman of a commission writing a new Zimbabwe Constitution, COPAC, was formally charged last Friday.
He is expected to appear in court this week. He is to be charged under a law that makes it illegal to “undermine the authority of or insult the president.” The police says he was abusive and made derogatory remarks against the President’s portrait.
Mwonzora reportedly said: “Hesi Mugabe, riri sei ziso? (Hie Mugabe. How is your eye?.”
The court gallery reportedly roared into laughter. Mugabe’s spokesmanclaims he is suffering from cataracts and dismiss reports he is plagued by cancer. Police say the remarks were meant to cause hatred, contempt and ridicule for the 87-year-old president.
It is the second charge of insulting Mugabe levelled against Mwonzora, who was also charged last year after accusing Mugabe of being a “goblin”. People convicted under the law in question normally receive a short jail or community service sentence, or a fine.
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