{"id":378860,"date":"2011-04-12T20:00:15","date_gmt":"2011-04-12T20:00:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ghanamma.net\/2011\/04\/12\/mp-charged-with-insulting-mugabe-again\/"},"modified":"2011-04-12T20:00:15","modified_gmt":"2011-04-12T20:00:15","slug":"mp-charged-with-insulting-mugabe-again","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/04\/12\/mp-charged-with-insulting-mugabe-again\/","title":{"rendered":"MP Charged With Insulting Mugabe, Again"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\nSW Radio Africa<\/a> (London)\n<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Lance Guma<\/p>\n

12 April 2011<\/p>\n

\n

MDC-T Nyanga North MP, Douglas Mwonzora, was last Friday again charged with insulting ZANU PF leader Robert Mugabe.<\/p>\n

The co-chair of the Constitutional Parliamentary Committee (COPAC), was summoned to Mutare Central Police Station and told he would be facing a new charge of undermining or insulting the president.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Speaking to SW Radio Africa on Tuesday, Mwonzora said police interviewed him over claims he made insulting remarks at the Nyanga Magistrate Courts on the 7th March while pointing at a portrait of Mugabe. He is alleged to have uttered the words Makadii Baba? Irisei Miviri? Riri sei ziso? (How are you father, how is your health and how is your eye?)”<\/p>\n

Mwonzora however said he was in custody over trumped-up violence charges at the time and was inquiring into the health of 82 year old Headman Rwisai Nyakauru, one of 24 villagers arrested and locked up with him for more than 25 days. He said Nyakauru had problems with his eyes after ZANU PF thugs took away his glasses after beating him up for allegedly supporting the MDC.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Mwonzora said even if he had directed the remarks at Mugabe “it’s not an offence to inquire into the health of older people, let alone the Head of State. As an MP, I’m entitled to know how my President and Commander in Chief is.” He also said that in any case, the picture in the court room was not Mugabe. “It is a piece of paper that is why police officers do not salute it. Mugabe is not equal to his picture.”<\/p>\n

Mwonzora was made to sign a warned and cautioned statement by the police and will next appear in court by way of summons.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

It’s the second time that the MP has been charged with insulting Mugabe. At an MDC rally in 2009 he was alleged to have called Mugabe a goblin. “Mugabe chikwambo uye achamhanya. Ndawona Mugabe achigeza tauro muchuwuno, sipo muhapwa uye ndebvu hupepe. Pamberi neMDC pasi nechihurumende chembavha.<\/p>\n

(Mugabe is a goblin and will run. I saw Mugabe bathing, towel around the waist, soap in the armpit and an overgrown beard. Forward with the MDC and down with a government of thieves)”.<\/p>\n

That particular case has since been referred to the Supreme Court, with Mwonzora arguing that his constitutional rights to freedom of expression are being violated. He told SW Radio Africa that Mugabe was a political opponent of the MDC and they could not be expected to say nice things about him. “As we go into elections, more and more people are going to be arrested for passing comments on Mugabe.”<\/p>\n

Asked why he was being targeted, Mwonzora said; “I am being saddled with prosecutions because people (ZANU PF) do not want me to carry out my work as COPAC co-chairman. He also said the insult law used against him promotes Mugabe into a demi-god and is “unduly oppressive and not reasonably justifiable in a democracy.”<\/p>\n

Last month the High Court granted bail to Mwonzora, plus 24 other activists, following their arrests on trumped-up charges of instigating violence. He was released after spending 25 days in custody while the other activists were held for 27 days. Mwonzora was not allowed to receive medical treatment for the first 5 days in custody and for three days was denied food, water and visitors.<\/p>\n

Upon his release Mwonzora said his arrest had cost the constitution making process about one month’s worth of work.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

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Read the article:
\nMP Charged With Insulting Mugabe, Again<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

SW Radio Africa (London) Lance Guma 12 April 2011 MDC-T Nyanga North MP, Douglas Mwonzora, was last Friday again charged with insulting ZANU PF leader Robert Mugabe. 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