A legislator has been arraigned before a court in Zimbabwe for passing “insulting remarks” about Grace, the wife of President Robert Mugabe.
The legislator, Justice Wadyajena, 35, a member of the ruling ZANU-PF party, was charged with “criminal insult or, alternatively, conduct likely to provoke the breach of peace”.
He had reportedly engaged in an argument with another party member, Jimayi Muduvuri, who had the picture of the First Lady on his car and a slogan calling on party members to support her.
At the height of the argument, the Member of Parliament allegedly told Muduvuri, “You are a fool as well as that mother of yours”.
The First Lady is called “mother” by many party supporters.
The Member of Parliament has been linked with a faction of the ruling party that supports Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa to succeed 91-year-old ruler, Robert Mugabe, while Muduvuri is known to belong to the faction that supports 50-year-old Grace.
Wadyajena was charged before magistrate Lindiwe Maphosa in the district of Victoria Falls, who has granted him $800 bail and adjourned trial till January 5.
Source: AFP