News / National
Insults make Mugabe look 'petty' and 'vindictive'
28 Jan 2015 at 04:31hrs | Views
PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe has come under fire for using "un-presidential" language and insulting political foes who cannot respond to his tirades because he is protected by law.
Constitutional law expert Alex Magaisa said from his United Kingdom base the president was demeaning his office by continuously using unstatesman-like language.
"If you look across the world, there is a manner which is dignified and respectful, by which holders of high office are expected to conduct themselves," said.
"Presidents do not go around using indecorous language against opponents.
"They might differ in their opinions, but they do not go around calling each other names and scolding each other in personal terms.
"They know that such conduct undermines their own image and makes them look petty and vindictive.
"Therefore, the first point is that such conduct has detrimental effects on the image of the president and the way others look at him."
Mugabe has verbally attacked his political opponents including his former Security minister Didymas Mutasa in public, calling him a "stray braying ass".
His political opponents, however, cannot respond in kind to Mugabe's rants as he is protected by insult laws.
Magaisa said it was unfair for him to insult others and then hide behind an undemocratic law.
"It is obviously unfair that while the president can castigate and insult others, he himself is shielded by the laws that make it criminal to insult him," he said.
"I would have thought the reason for shielding the president from insults was to protect the dignity of his office, but when the president himself is the author of insults, surely, this has a negative impact on the dignity of his office.
"As the MDC, we are not going to pay much attention to an old man who takes the uttering of hate language as a hobby." MDC-T-spokesperson-Obert-Gutu
"Insults issued by the president are just as bad, if not worse, than insults issued against the president.
"You cannot criminalise one and say the other is legal and acceptable."
MDC-T spokesman Obert Gutu said old age had taken its toll on Mugabe who turns 91 next month.
"As the MDC, we are not going to pay much attention to an old man who takes the uttering of hate language as a hobby," he said.
"We feel sorry for him, but then what can you expect from a man who has absolute contempt for his country's Constitution?"
Gutu agreed with Magaisa saying if an Act of Parliament could be used to protect Mugabe from insults, then he should be barred from insulting others.
"The best solution would be to scrap the clearly undemocratic laws that essentially criminalise criticism of the president and (institute laws which) protect free speech, including the freedom to insult," he said.
"It makes no sense and it is patently unfair, to criminalise insults against the president while condoning insults by the president."
Former Zanu PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo noted that if Mugabe could exercise his democratic right for freedom of speech, he should respect that of his opponents if they disagree with him.
Constitutional law expert Alex Magaisa said from his United Kingdom base the president was demeaning his office by continuously using unstatesman-like language.
"If you look across the world, there is a manner which is dignified and respectful, by which holders of high office are expected to conduct themselves," said.
"Presidents do not go around using indecorous language against opponents.
"They might differ in their opinions, but they do not go around calling each other names and scolding each other in personal terms.
"They know that such conduct undermines their own image and makes them look petty and vindictive.
"Therefore, the first point is that such conduct has detrimental effects on the image of the president and the way others look at him."
Mugabe has verbally attacked his political opponents including his former Security minister Didymas Mutasa in public, calling him a "stray braying ass".
His political opponents, however, cannot respond in kind to Mugabe's rants as he is protected by insult laws.
Magaisa said it was unfair for him to insult others and then hide behind an undemocratic law.
"It is obviously unfair that while the president can castigate and insult others, he himself is shielded by the laws that make it criminal to insult him," he said.
"I would have thought the reason for shielding the president from insults was to protect the dignity of his office, but when the president himself is the author of insults, surely, this has a negative impact on the dignity of his office.
"As the MDC, we are not going to pay much attention to an old man who takes the uttering of hate language as a hobby." MDC-T-spokesperson-Obert-Gutu
"Insults issued by the president are just as bad, if not worse, than insults issued against the president.
"You cannot criminalise one and say the other is legal and acceptable."
MDC-T spokesman Obert Gutu said old age had taken its toll on Mugabe who turns 91 next month.
"As the MDC, we are not going to pay much attention to an old man who takes the uttering of hate language as a hobby," he said.
"We feel sorry for him, but then what can you expect from a man who has absolute contempt for his country's Constitution?"
Gutu agreed with Magaisa saying if an Act of Parliament could be used to protect Mugabe from insults, then he should be barred from insulting others.
"The best solution would be to scrap the clearly undemocratic laws that essentially criminalise criticism of the president and (institute laws which) protect free speech, including the freedom to insult," he said.
"It makes no sense and it is patently unfair, to criminalise insults against the president while condoning insults by the president."
Former Zanu PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo noted that if Mugabe could exercise his democratic right for freedom of speech, he should respect that of his opponents if they disagree with him.
Source - Southern Eye
