 |
| With her lawyer |
Hither Rujeko Mupambwa (22) was detained for three days at
the Kariba Remand Prison before she was granted bail.
Mupambwa will go on trial on September 10 for allegedly
criticising Mnangagwa's speech on a community WhatsApp group known as Kariba
hard Talk on August 4.
The prosecutor alleges the National university of Science
and Technology third year student responded to Mnangagwa's state of the nation
address by insulting him over his 2030 vision.
She allegedly said "(Mnangagwa) is insisting on vision
2030, he is a fool, we will die being told that dream."
Prosecutors said some group members shared the information
with state security agents, leading to Mupambwa's arrest.
Mupambwa appeared before Kariba magistrate's Bianca Mahere
on August 6 and was represented by unite Saize, from the Zimbabwe Lawyers for
human Rights. She was granted $5 000 bail on August 7.
Saize yesterday said her client did not commit any crime.
"She simply said emasoni, she never said Mnangagwa or
president and there is no nexus with an offence," she said.
"There is no clarity that emasoni refers to
Mnangagwa."
Saize said Mupambwa will be back in court for remand
because an authority for prosecution was yet to be granted.
ZimRights executive director Dzikamai Bere said Zimbabwe
must protect rights to freedom of expression.
"Freedom of expression is a fundamental human right
and an indispensable element in the development and consolidation of a
democratic society," Bere said.
"even the universal Declaration of human Rights Article
19 supports anyone to hold opinions without interference."
Several people, including state security agents have been
arrested for insulting Mnangagwa as the situation in the country continues to
deteriorate.
An MDC Alliance councillor in Masvingo, Godfrey Kurauone
was denied bail last week for allegedly singing a song ridiculing Mnangagwa.
Some police officers have also been arrested over WhatsApp
posts allegedly insulting the Zanu-PF leader.
Standard
0 comments:
Post a Comment