'Go and hang together with Mugabe' lands whiteman in the dock

Mike Van Royen, a 76 year- old white commercial farmer and miner, who was arrested in Bulawayo on Friday on charges of insulting President Robert Mugabe appeared in court on Monday afternoon and was granted free bail to appear in court in mid-August.

Van Royen who runs Cynthia Mine and Asher Estate farm in Matobo district was arrested on Friday after he allegedly insulted Mugabe and Joel Tshuma over the phone.

Appearing before Bulawayo Magistrate Victor Mpofu, Van Royen was charged under Section 33 of the Criminal Law Act for insulting or undermining the president.

Allegations against the white commercial farmer are that on Wednesday he was phoned by Tshuma who is interested in his farm but the white farmer replied telling Tshuma "to go and hang together with Mugabe."

Magistrate Mpofu granted him free bail and his case was postponed to 11 August.

Before Van Royen's arrest on Friday, Tshuma who is said to be interested in the white farmer's property and a group of Zanu-PF youths had visited Asher Estates farm and Cynthia Mine last Monday and locked all gates and threatened his workers before barring him from entering.

Tawanda Mashayamombe is representing van Royen he alleges that this is just political harassment, these guys are interested in his client' properties.