Zimbabwe: Councillor arrested for calling Mnangagwa a ‘fool’

A local councillor for Zimbabwe’s opposition MDC Alliance party in the town of Chipinge has been arrested after sending a WhatsApp message describing President Emmerson Mnangagwa as a fool.

Chrispen Rambu, who represents the 8th ward in Chipinge, was arrested last week and granted a $500 bail by a local magistrate on Saturday. 

Mr Rambu is accused of undermining the authority of the president and appeared before Magistrate Elizabeth Hanzi, who ordered for him to be released from custody. Mr Rambu denies the charges against him.

Prosecutors told the court that Mr Rambu sent the message on a Chipinge Central Development WhatsApp group, comprised of community leaders and senior district officials, on 21st April. 

The message read: “[South African President Cyril] Ramaphosa just announced R500bn stimulus package seeing him addressing and comparing him to Mnangagwa, you won’t doubt that we are having a fool for a Head of State”. 

Photo: New Zimbabwe