via Vendor arrested over Mugabe road jibe 04/12/2014
A Harare informal trader was Tuesday arrested and charged for criminal nuisance after he was allegedly involved in a verbal altercation with a colleague over the naming of a street and a square “in honour” of the First Family.
The Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights last night said Shane Kazado was arrested in Mabelreign for undermining the authority of or insulting President Robert Mugabe under the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
The ice cream vendor allegedly made some “unpalatable” comments to a colleague who took offence with aspects regarding the honour bestowed on President Mugabe and his wife, Grace.
The unidentified complainant then filed a report at Mabelreign Police Station leading to the arrest of the vendor who was transferred to Harare Central Police Station.
However, officers at Harare Central Police Station later preferred a lesser charge of criminal nuisance in contravention of Section 46 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act against Kazado.
The pressing of a lesser charge against Kazado came after his lawyer, Tarisai Mutangi, convinced the police that the facts stated by the complainant did not disclose an offence and could not sustain the charge of undermining authority of or insulting the President.
In the end, Kazado was fined $10 and released from police custody.
Construction workers recently named a pathway after “Dr Grace Mugabe” and a square on the fringes of the central business district, the venue of the ZANU PF congress, after the President.
The gesture was greeted with ridicule worldwide as people took to the social media to lampoon the first lady. Some have called the ruling party’s congress, which opened this week in the capital, a ConGrace.
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