9 women arrested for booing Mnangagwa’s wife; charged with ‘disorderly conduct’

By ZimGazette Reporter

MUTARE: SOME nine women have been bailed after being arrested for allegedly booing President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s wife Auxilia, the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) has revealed.

According to the ZLHR, the incident occurred last Wednesday during a charity event held by the First Lady at Watsomba business centre in Mutasa district, Manicaland.

Prosecutors claimed the women booed Mnangagwa as she addressed a gathering after giving some goodies as part of her charity work.

The women denied the charges, saying they were “just targeted during a dragnet arrest after they opted to leave the venue early … when Mnangagwa was still addressing people and before being dismissed”.

However, prosecutors “claimed that the 9 women, who reside in various villages located near Watsomba Business Centre stood up and disrupted Mnangagwa’s delivery of her speech by booing her as a way of showing their disgruntlement for not receiving some groceries and clothes, which she was doling out to people,” said ZLHR in a statement in X (formerly Twitter).

We rescued these 9 women from detention after they were arrested&charged for allegedly booing First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa during her address at Watsomba Business Centre where they reportedly failed to access some freebies, which she was doling out as part of her charitable work pic.twitter.com/ijVpzyoODF

— ZLHR (@ZLHRLawyers) April 14, 2024

“Prosecutors charged that the women, who were seated on the ground stood up and started booing the First Lady while she was making her closing remarks during her address intending to disrupt her speech and show disgruntlement that they had not received anything from her.

“The behaviour allegedly exhibited by (the accused), prosecutors said, was unlawful, abusive and insulting to Mnangagwa.”

All nine were granted bail when they appeared before Mutare magistrate Prisca Manhibi who remanded them to April 30.

They were represented by ZLHR lawyers Tatenda Sigauke and David Tandiri.

Ahead of the coup which toppled her husband in 2017, some Zanu PF youths were arrested for jeering then first lady Grace Mugabe during a rally at White City stadium in Bulawayo.

A furious President Robert Mugabe blamed his then deputy Mnangagwa before sacking him a few days later in events that led to the coup.

The youths, who were represented by ZLHR, were later set free after prosecutors withdrew charges of insulting or undermining the former First Lady.