$150 fine for Mugabe death joke

A Gweru court fined a man $150 (120 euro) for joking that President Robert Mugabe had died, a daily newspaper reported Thursday.

Cleapas Manangazira, 34, was convicted for undermining the authority of the president in a court in central city Gweru.

Manangazira joked to police about Mugabe's death when the bus he was traveling in stopped at a tollgate on the road to Gweru, according to the NewsDay.

"Why are you police officers sitting here. Don't you know the President is dead," prosecutors quoted Manangazira as saying.

"We are coming from putting a tombstone on Mugabe's grave. Did you hear me people? Mugabe is dead."

Bus drivers tried to silence him but the man went on joking about the long-time ruler.

The conductors then told the bus driver to take Manangazira to Gweru police station, where he was arrested.

Reports surface often on arrests for slandering Zimbabwe's long-time president and breaching the strict public order law.

Usually those found guilty receive light jail sentences or fines or are ordered to do community service.