News / National
Trevor Ncube condemns Mnangagwa's gvt over Gonyeti
28 Feb 2019 at 04:39hrs | Views
Media Mogul and Presidential Advisor Trevor Ncuce has condemned the arrest of comedian Samantha Kureya, popularly known as ‘Gonyeti' of BustopTV who was arrested on Tuesday.
Gonyeti and her colleague Sheron Chideu were both fined $20 for wearing police uniforms in a 2016 YouTube video.
"The arrest of comedian Samantha Kureya (Gonyeti) for the #CharityCharambaChallenge must be strongly condemned." Trevor Ncube said. "Such intolerance and harassment belongs in the bygone Robert Mugabe era. Freedom of expression is a key ingredient of any vibrant democracy."
Former cabinet minister Jonathan Moyo said, "When jokes, let's be technically correct; when comedy, in fact let's be constitutionally clear; when freedom of expression invites Gestapo visits from Law and Order in an authoritatian military state which Zimbabwe has become you must know all hell has broken loose."
The law that the comedians were charged for violating says:
Any person who wears any uniforms or distinctive badge or button of the Police Force or anything which might reasonably be mistaken for any such uniform, badge or button as to be likely to deceive, shall, unless— (a) he is a member of the Police Force entitled by reason of his appointment, rank or designation to wear such uniform, badge or button; or (b) he has been granted permission by the Commissioner to wear such uniform, badge or button; be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level five or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months or to both such fine and such imprisonment.
Gonyeti and her colleague Sheron Chideu were both fined $20 for wearing police uniforms in a 2016 YouTube video.
"The arrest of comedian Samantha Kureya (Gonyeti) for the #CharityCharambaChallenge must be strongly condemned." Trevor Ncube said. "Such intolerance and harassment belongs in the bygone Robert Mugabe era. Freedom of expression is a key ingredient of any vibrant democracy."
Former cabinet minister Jonathan Moyo said, "When jokes, let's be technically correct; when comedy, in fact let's be constitutionally clear; when freedom of expression invites Gestapo visits from Law and Order in an authoritatian military state which Zimbabwe has become you must know all hell has broken loose."
The law that the comedians were charged for violating says:
Any person who wears any uniforms or distinctive badge or button of the Police Force or anything which might reasonably be mistaken for any such uniform, badge or button as to be likely to deceive, shall, unless— (a) he is a member of the Police Force entitled by reason of his appointment, rank or designation to wear such uniform, badge or button; or (b) he has been granted permission by the Commissioner to wear such uniform, badge or button; be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level five or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months or to both such fine and such imprisonment.
Source - Byo24News
