Nine Zimbabwean women who were arrested for allegedly booing Zimbabwe’s First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa at a public event have had the charges dropped, a presidential spokesperson said on Monday.
“Both the First Lady and Police Commissioner General agreed the officers on the ground overreacted. On the instructions of the First Lady, all charges were withdrawn yesterday,” government spokesperson George Charamba, is quoted by local media to have said.
Reports alleged the First Lady was booed after the women failed to access food and clothing handouts that she was distributing at a charity event in the country’s eastern province of Manicaland.
They faced charges of disorderly conduct, insulting or undermining the First Lady, said Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), the organisation that represented them in court.
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The incident, according to local media sparked controversy, as Zimbabweans questioned the influence the First Lady had over police actions.
“Auxillia Mnangagwa is known for her assertive demeanor and significant influence, often accompanied by a motorcade and demanding coverage of her charity events by state media. Her involvement in media oversight has reportedly led to the dismissal of several state media editors for non-compliance with her directives,” said the Zambian Observer.
We rescued these 9 women from detention after they were arrested&charged for allegedly booing First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa during her address at Watsomba Business Centre where they reportedly failed to access some freebies, which she was doling out as part of her charitable work pic.twitter.com/ijVpzyoODF
— ZLHR (@ZLHRLawyers) April 14, 2024