A Zimbabwean man who recently spent three weeks in prison for ”shouting subversive statements” about President Robert Mugabe has been discharged by a court, the state-controlled Herald reported on Tuesday.
The Herald said Clifford Ruhukwa (32) pleaded guilty to charges under security laws when he appeared in a court in Chitungwiza town, south of Harare, on Monday.
The court ruled that Ruhukwa’s three-week detention following his arrest on April 18 was sufficient punishment, according to the report.
”In assessing sentence, the court took into account that he was arrested on April 18 and denied bail when he appeared in court. He was only released on bail on May 10,” magistrate Godfrey Unzemoyo was quoted as saying.
Reports had said Ruhukwa was arrested by fellow travellers at a bus stop in Chitungwiza, 20km south of Harare, for shouting ”unprintable” words about Mugabe, an offence punishable by a year in prison or a fine.
But the magistrate ruled that in Ruhukwa’s case, a jail term would have been too ”harsh”.
”The period spent at remand prison is equivalent to a fine which he was supposed to pay,” he said.
Several Zimbabweans are arrested every year for insulting Mugabe. — Sapa-DPA