Back to Index

MDC Provincial Treasurer summoned over anti-Mugabe slur
Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR)
October 18, 2010

Police in Bindura have summoned Gilbert Kagodora, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) treasurer for Mashonaland Central Province to stand trial on charges of undermining the authority of or insulting President Robert Mugabe.

In the summons which were served on Kagodora last week, police say the MDC provincial treasurer should stand trial at the Bindura Magistrates Court on Wednesday 20 October 2010 at 08:30 am.

The police accuse Kagodora of contravening Section 33 (2) (a) (i) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23 by undermining the authority of or insulting the President.

The police allege that Kagodora denounced President Mugabe during an address to party supporters at a constitutional awareness meeting held at Nzvimbo Council Hall in Chiweshe, Mashonaland Central on 11 March 2010, when he said; "Mugabe mudenga, Grace mudenga, vabatanidzei, roverai pasi," which the police deduced to mean "Mugabe up, Grace up, bring them together and drop them on the ground."

Apparently Kagodora was removed from remand on 25 June 2010 by Magistrate Ruramai Chitumbura on the same charge that he has been summonsed to stand trial after his lawyer Jeremiah Bamu of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) applied for refusal of further remand.

Besides Kagodora, Epworth Member of Parliament Hon. Eliah Jembere, who was also charged with undermining the authority of or insulting the President Mugabe at the same time with Kagodora, was also removed from remand on 25 June 2010. Hon. Jembere has not yet been served with any summons on the matter.

Hon. Jembere was accused of insulting President Mugabe when he addressed party supporters at a constitutional awareness meeting by saying "Mugabe mudenga, ZANU PF mudenga, vabatanidzei, roverai roverai pasi," which the police interpreted as meaning to say "Mugabe up, ZANU PF up, bring them together and drop them down."

Visit the ZLHR fact sheet

Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.

TOP