This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/may/08/zimbabwe-solomon-madzore-robert-mugabe
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Zimbabwe: Solomon Madzore denies calling Robert Mugabe 'limping donkey' | Zimbabwe: Solomon Madzore denies calling Robert Mugabe 'limping donkey' |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| A Zimbabwean opposition youth leader arrested for allegedly calling Robert Mugabe a "limping donkey" who should be put out to pasture is to spend a second week behind bars. | |
| Solomon Madzore, head of the youth wing of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), denies describing the 89-year-old president that way and claims the charge was trumped up by police loyal to Mugabe's Zanu-PF party. | |
| In a further sign of rising tensions before elections expected this year, a newspaper editor and reporter were arrested on Tuesday and charged with publishing false statements prejudicial to the state. | In a further sign of rising tensions before elections expected this year, a newspaper editor and reporter were arrested on Tuesday and charged with publishing false statements prejudicial to the state. |
| Madzore was arrested on 2 May after allegedly insulting the president during a pre-election rally in Mbire, Mashonaland Central province. The MDC said prosecutors have used a contentious appeal law to block a court ordering his release on $100 bail. He faces a fine or several months' imprisonment. | |
| The MDC claimed Madzore's arrest was a sign of desperation by Zanu-PF, calling it "the kicks of a dying horse". Clifford Hlatywayo, spokesman for the MDC youth assembly, who was at the rally, said: "The accusation is not true. He said he respects the person and the office of the president and wants Zimbabwe to move forward. We don't remember him insulting individuals. These are fabrications that are meant to disturb the movement and the person." | |
| Hlatywayo said the youth assembly was campaigning for the prime minister and MDC leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, around the country and calling for a peaceful vote, a message that riled Zanu-PF. He added: "Zanu-PF is allergic to peace. It hates peace so anyone who proclaims peace is an enemy to them. They brew and drink violence." | Hlatywayo said the youth assembly was campaigning for the prime minister and MDC leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, around the country and calling for a peaceful vote, a message that riled Zanu-PF. He added: "Zanu-PF is allergic to peace. It hates peace so anyone who proclaims peace is an enemy to them. They brew and drink violence." |
| Hlatywayo visited Madzore in remand prison on Wednesday. "He is in a good condition. The jail is well-known for inhumane conditions but he is surviving well. He is in high spirits. He is giving us courage to soldier on and encouraging us to continue with our campaign." | Hlatywayo visited Madzore in remand prison on Wednesday. "He is in a good condition. The jail is well-known for inhumane conditions but he is surviving well. He is in high spirits. He is giving us courage to soldier on and encouraging us to continue with our campaign." |
| Madzore has previously spent more than 400 days in prison in connection with the death of a policeman. | Madzore has previously spent more than 400 days in prison in connection with the death of a policeman. |
| Detention for making offensive comments about the presidency is not unusual in Zimbabwe. At least 60 have been arrested and charged with insulting Mugabe since 2010, according to Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights. | |
| Two journalists from the Independent newspaper were arrested on Tuesday over allegations of publishing "falsehoods" against state institutions involving reports that generals and security chiefs were willing to meet Tsvangirai, who is seeking reforms in the armed forces. | Two journalists from the Independent newspaper were arrested on Tuesday over allegations of publishing "falsehoods" against state institutions involving reports that generals and security chiefs were willing to meet Tsvangirai, who is seeking reforms in the armed forces. |
| Dumisani Muleya and Owen Gagare, editor and chief reporter of the weekly paper, were released later in the day after police said their investigations into the allegations were continuing. | Dumisani Muleya and Owen Gagare, editor and chief reporter of the weekly paper, were released later in the day after police said their investigations into the allegations were continuing. |
| Mugabe's two most senior generals have publicly said they will not meet Tsvangirai. The Independent's reports that other generals are willing to do so allegedly demoralised the ranks of the police and military and jeopardised state security. | Mugabe's two most senior generals have publicly said they will not meet Tsvangirai. The Independent's reports that other generals are willing to do so allegedly demoralised the ranks of the police and military and jeopardised state security. |
| In comments reported byrelayed by the Media Institute of Southern Africa after his seven-hour detention at Harare central police station, Muleya said: "This is a clear abuse of state machinery and an act of systematic harassment and intimidation of journalists who are merely doing their job. This has always been a common feature of Zimbabwe under president Robert Mugabe and his Orwellian Zanu-PF regime since they came to power in 1980." | |
| He added: "This uncalled-for move is calculated to muzzle the media, in this case ourselves, to scare us away from writing about such major issues of overwhelming public interest, especially security sector reform, ahead of general elections. But one really wonders why authoritarian regimes like the one in Zimbabwe still think they can successfully suppress the media in this digital and social media age." | He added: "This uncalled-for move is calculated to muzzle the media, in this case ourselves, to scare us away from writing about such major issues of overwhelming public interest, especially security sector reform, ahead of general elections. But one really wonders why authoritarian regimes like the one in Zimbabwe still think they can successfully suppress the media in this digital and social media age." |
| Rights groups claim there has been an increase in arrests and intimidation of journalists and civil society activists as the country prepares for elections, probably in August or September, to end the shaky unity government formed by Mugabe and Tsvangirai in 2009. | Rights groups claim there has been an increase in arrests and intimidation of journalists and civil society activists as the country prepares for elections, probably in August or September, to end the shaky unity government formed by Mugabe and Tsvangirai in 2009. |
| Philani Zamchiya, outgoing regional director of the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition, warned that "silence and subjugation" would be used. "There are likely to be systematic attacks on civil society organisations and activists as we proceed towards elections ...… It is rule by law, not rule of law." | |
| guardian.co.uk today is our daily snapshot of the top news stories, sent to your inbox at 8am | guardian.co.uk today is our daily snapshot of the top news stories, sent to your inbox at 8am |