Outcry as Zimbabwe jails opposition activist

Prominent opposition youth activist Makomborero Haruzivishe has been jailed for 14 months for inciting public violence and resisting arrest, which he denied.

The court in Harare said he had been "whistling" to mobilise members of the public against police as officers were rounding up illegal vendors in the capital's city centre in February last year, and threw stones at police officers and their vehicle.

Haruzivishe said he was "ready for prison" on Twitter and even called it a "sabbatical", and included a stream of insults directed at the authorities. He is expected to appeal the sentence.

The outspoken critic of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government has been arrested numerous times. As he awaited the sentencing hearing he was in adjoining court room on an unrelated charge.

The Movement for Democratic Alliance described him as a "prisoner of conscience" who is being persecuted for speaking out against poverty, injustice and corruption.

There were chaotic scenes at the courthouse when police blocked a media briefing and allegedly injured a journalist as they dispersed the gathering.

This article originally appeared on BBC Africa

Photo: Getty Images