'Mugabe cursed by God comment' man dragged to court

THE trial of a Chiredzi resident accused of insulting President Robert Mugabe after allegedly saying that the veteran leader was cursed, failed to take off yesterday as the State had not yet secured authority to prosecute from the Prosecutor-General as required by the law.

Leonard Maora was arrested on July 7 in Triangle and charged with insulting or undermining the authority of the president as defined in Section 33 (b) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.

Maora, who was represented by Blessing Nyamaropa of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), was arrested after allegedly saying Mugabe was cursed by God and the country would suffer.

ZLHR spokesperson Kumbirai Mafunda said the case would go for trial when the State was ready to prosecute

"He will be summoned when the State is ready to proceed with the matter," he said.

Several people have been dragged to the courts for insulting Mugabe and have all been acquitted as the insult law was declared unconstitutional.