In a positive development, nine villagers who were arrested for booing First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa have been released on free bail.
The nine women who were arrested after allegedly booing First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa during her address at Watsomba Business Centre were freed thanks to the efforts of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR).
The women allegedly booed Amai Mnangagwa after they reportedly failed to receive some of the items being distributed as part of her charitable work.
Nester Chatiwana (41), Panashe Machekanzondo (19), Winnet Sithole (19), Maria Choto (49), Esnath Choto (33), Ellen Rujuwa (28), Faith Chidhakwa (30), Patience Matasva (35) and Joyce Mashingaidza (29 ) were arrested by members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) last Wednesday at Watsomba Business Centre in Manicaland Province.
They were detained at Mutare Central Police Station, before being charged with disorderly conduct in a public place as defined in section 41(b) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
During the court proceedings, the prosecution alleged that the nine women disrupted First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa’s speech by booing her as she concluded her address. They argued that this behaviour was aimed at causing a disturbance and expressing their discontent for not receiving items distributed during the event.
Represented by Tatenda Sigauke and David Tandiri of ZLHR, the accused women were released on free bail on Friday by Mutare Magistrate Prisca Manhibi. They are set to return to court on April 30. In their defence, the women denied the charges, stating that they were unfairly targeted during a mass arrest and had only stood up top leave the venue before the conclusion of Mnangagwa’s speech.
Source iHarare
