Charges have been withdrawn against nine villagers who were arrested for allegedly mocking First Lady Auxilia Mnangagwa in Manicaland during a raucous meeting held at Watsimba Business Center in Mutasa District of Manicaland Province.
The incident occurred last Wednesday when villagers failed to receive the free gifts that Mnangagwa was distributing as part of her charity work, sparking a wave of ridicule from the nine women.
Nester Chatiwana (41), Panashe Mshikanzondo (19), Winette Sithole (19), Maria Chotu (49), Esnath Chotu (33), Ellen Rogoa (28), Faith Chidakwa (30), Patience Matasva (35), Joyce Mashingidza and Tm. (29) people were arrested during the quarrel.
They were represented by Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, Tatenda Sijawki and David Tandiri, and were released last Friday on free bail by Mutare Magistrate Prisca Manhibe.
They were expected to return to court on April 30 to face charges of disorderly conduct in a public place as defined in Section 41(b) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
However, presidential spokesman George Charamba said on his X account, @dhonzamusoro007, that the charges had been withdrawn on Sunday.
“The First Lady and the Police Commissioner agreed that officers on the ground overreacted. “On the instructions of the First Lady, all charges were withdrawn yesterday.”
ZLHR revealed in a statement that prosecutors said the nine women behaved unlawfully and abusively towards Mnangagwa.
The prosecution said that the two women, who were sitting on the floor, stood up and began booing the First Lady while she was making closing statements during her speech with the aim of disrupting her speech and showing displeasure because they had not received anything from her. The statement said. Newsday
