'Mugabe contravened the Witchcraft Suppression Act'

LEGAL experts say the believe that President Robert Mugabe should be punished for contraventions of law because citizens were all equal before the law at least on paper, the president included.

Mugabe might have contravened Section 99 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act after claims that former Vice-President Joice Mujuru dabbled in witchcraft in an alleged bid to oust him.

The section criminalises indicating witches and wizards but legal experts think Mugabe could not be prosecuted because of the immunity he enjoys.

Legal minds said if he was not a sitting president, Mugabe would have been prosecuted over such allegations. They also said Mujuru has every right to sue Mugabe for defamation under the civil procedures of the law.

Mugabe revealed on Saturday during his 91st birthday bash in Victoria Falls that his former deputy engaged Nigerian sangomas to eliminate him.

He claimed that at one of the rituals, Mujuru was half undressed and used chickens to cast spells on his family and rival Zanu PF leaders.

Mujuru has however dismissed Mugabe's allegations as "presidential conjecture and fantasy based on outright lies".