MDC MP arrested for ‘insulting’ President Joel Gabbuza

Leonard Ncube, Victoria Falls Reporter
BINGA South Member of Parliament, Gabbuza Joel Gabbuza, who is also MDC chairman for Matabeleland North, has been arrested for denigrating the name of President Mnangagwa.

Gabbuza allegedly made the utterances at a funeral in his constituency where he rapped the Binga community for being “foolish” by voting for President Mnangagwa.

President Mnangagwa won the July 31 harmonised presidential election beating MDC Alliance’s Mr Nelson Chamisa.

Gabbuza appeared for initial remand before Matabeleland North magistrate-in-charge Mr Livard Philimon on Monday to answer to a charge of undermining the authority of or insulting the President.

He was not asked to plead and was released on $200 bail.

The court gave a longer remand to December 13 for a possible trial and ordered Gabbuza to reside at his given address in Binga.

Gabbuza, however, indicated that he will deny the charges saying he never insulted the President as he only told mourners that there was a fuel crisis in the country.

Prosecuting, Ms Jamesina Makanza said the crime was committed last month at the burial of John Bwansula Mumpande in Manzyasiya Village under Chief Pashu.

“On October 23, 2018 at 11AM, and at John Bwansula Mumpande’s homestead, the informant and other members of the community in Manzyasiya village including the accused person were gathered for burial and while at the grave site, the accused was invited to speak as an MP.

“In his speech, the accused undermined the authority of the President,” said the prosecutor.

She said Gabbuza uttered the insults in the Tonga language saying: “Inywe nubantu mulimalema mwakasala mubwa utakonzyi kutonga nyika takuchikwe mafuta, mapilisi, ime ndakaya kuZambia kuyowula mafuta akuti tuzoligwasye mabambe ano adilye. Ndambula utanyeme anyeme biyo.”

This is translated: “You people are foolish you have chosen a dog who cannot manage to rule the country, there is no fuel, medication and I had to go to Zambia to buy fuel which we have used at this funeral. I have said so and if there is anyone who is angered, I don’t care.”

The court was told that an elderly man, Mr Tholani Driver Ndlovu, who was at the burial, walked 100km to Binga centre six days later to report the matter to the police leading to Gabbuza’s arrest.

Mr Thulani Nkala of Dube, Nkala and Company represented Gabbuza. — @ncubeleon.

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