News / Local
Thabani Mpofu not the complainant in the tribalist student's case
30 Mar 2024 at 10:29hrs | Views
In an earlier version of this story, we erroneously reported that the National University of Science and Technology and its Director of Communications Mr Thabani Mpofu were the complainants in the matter below.
It has since come to our attention that it is the State that is the complainant and Nust and Mr Mpofu were only called by the police to confirm that Tanaka Ryan Ziso was a Nust student.
We unreservedly apologise to Mr Mpofu and Nust for any inconvenience caused
A National University of Science and Technology (Nust) student will forever rue the day he decided to post a provocative tribal comment on his X page demeaning Ndebele people, as he has been arraigned before the courts.
The 24-year-old, Tanaka Ryan Ziso, who resides at the Old Mutual students accommodation complex in Selbourne Park and is a final year Civil and Water Engineering student appeared in court on Thursday to answer for charges of causing offence to persons of a particular race.
He was remanded in custody to 2 April when he appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Mr Maxwell Ncube.
Miss Dorcas Maphosa presenting the case for the State said Ziso committed the offence on 13 March this year.
"On 13 March 2024 at 2011 hours the accused person posted a message on his X-page (previously twitter) using the name The Royal Priest of Chitungwiza @ iamryantanaka.
In the post he said he expressed demeaning sentiments against the Ndebele people, which cannot be printed on a family newspaper paper.
On 14 March 2024 the accused at around 2PM posted another message heightening the already boiling tensions.
"Printed hard copies of the contents of the accused persons posts can be produced in court as evidence. The accused person had no right to post sentiments that can cause offence to persons of a particular race, tribe and place of origin," said Miss Maphosa.
It has since come to our attention that it is the State that is the complainant and Nust and Mr Mpofu were only called by the police to confirm that Tanaka Ryan Ziso was a Nust student.
We unreservedly apologise to Mr Mpofu and Nust for any inconvenience caused
A National University of Science and Technology (Nust) student will forever rue the day he decided to post a provocative tribal comment on his X page demeaning Ndebele people, as he has been arraigned before the courts.
The 24-year-old, Tanaka Ryan Ziso, who resides at the Old Mutual students accommodation complex in Selbourne Park and is a final year Civil and Water Engineering student appeared in court on Thursday to answer for charges of causing offence to persons of a particular race.
Miss Dorcas Maphosa presenting the case for the State said Ziso committed the offence on 13 March this year.
"On 13 March 2024 at 2011 hours the accused person posted a message on his X-page (previously twitter) using the name The Royal Priest of Chitungwiza @ iamryantanaka.
In the post he said he expressed demeaning sentiments against the Ndebele people, which cannot be printed on a family newspaper paper.
On 14 March 2024 the accused at around 2PM posted another message heightening the already boiling tensions.
"Printed hard copies of the contents of the accused persons posts can be produced in court as evidence. The accused person had no right to post sentiments that can cause offence to persons of a particular race, tribe and place of origin," said Miss Maphosa.
Source - The Chronicle
