News / National
MP charged with insulting Mnangagwa, release on $200 bail
14 Nov 2018 at 05:58hrs | Views
BINGA South legislator Gabbuza Joel Gabuza (MDC Alliance) has appeared before a Hwange magistrate charged with undermining the authority of, or insulting, President Emmerson Mnangagwa after he allegedly accused the Zanu PF leader of failing to fix the country's economic crisis.
Gabbuza Joel GabuzaGabuza, who is represented by human rights lawyer Thulani Nkala, pleaded not guilty to the charges of undermining the authority of or insulting the President as defined in section 33(2)(b) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act when he appeared before Hwange magistrate Livard Philemon on Monday.
The magistrate granted him $200 bail and remanded the matter to December 13.
Gabuza was ordered not to interfere with witnesses and to reside at his given address until the finalisation of the case.
The court heard that on October 23, Gabuza was at John Bwansula Mumpande's home in Manzasiya village in Binga, where villagers had gathered for a funeral.
It is alleged that while addressing mourners, he spoke in the local Tonga dialect, claiming that the people gathered at the funeral had chosen a dog that could not manage the country as shown by shortages of fuel and medication.
Gabuza allegedly claimed that he had to travel to Zambia to source the fuel that was used during the funeral.
This did not go down well with one of the villagers, who went to file a police report at Binga Police Station on October 29, accusing the legislator of insulting Mnangagwa and his government. This led to Gabuza's arrest.
Gabbuza Joel GabuzaGabuza, who is represented by human rights lawyer Thulani Nkala, pleaded not guilty to the charges of undermining the authority of or insulting the President as defined in section 33(2)(b) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act when he appeared before Hwange magistrate Livard Philemon on Monday.
The magistrate granted him $200 bail and remanded the matter to December 13.
Gabuza was ordered not to interfere with witnesses and to reside at his given address until the finalisation of the case.
It is alleged that while addressing mourners, he spoke in the local Tonga dialect, claiming that the people gathered at the funeral had chosen a dog that could not manage the country as shown by shortages of fuel and medication.
Gabuza allegedly claimed that he had to travel to Zambia to source the fuel that was used during the funeral.
This did not go down well with one of the villagers, who went to file a police report at Binga Police Station on October 29, accusing the legislator of insulting Mnangagwa and his government. This led to Gabuza's arrest.
Source - newsday
