Poet faces jail after ridiculing Mugabe

Times (UK) via ZWNEWS ^ | March 26, 2002 | Michael Hartnack in Harare

[Clive]

Times (UK)
Date posted:Tue 26-Mar-2002
Date published:Tue 26-Mar-2002

A young Zimbabwean faces a one-year prison sentence and £250 fine under draconian new legislation for writing and reciting a poem ridiculing President Mugabe

From Michael Hartnack in Harare

A young Zimbabwean faces a one-year prison sentence and £250 fine under draconian new legislation for writing and reciting a poem ridiculing President Mugabe.

Sikumbuzo Dube, 25, is one of thousands of illegal Zimbabwean migrants who have been deported from Botswana. He was being held after repatriation last week at Plumtree Prison, on Zimbabwe's western border, when warders overheard him reciting a composition entitled Cry, the Beloved Country.

This is the first case of its kind. The Public Order and Security Act was signed into law by Mr Mugabe shortly before this month's presidential elections. It not only bars criticism of the 78-year-old head of state but has empowered police to break up opposition briefings for diplomats and journalists.

Prince Butshe-Dube, the Plumtree prosecutor, said the poem triggered a furore in cells, dividing inmates into two camps: those who enjoyed it and those who felt offended.

The title was taken from Alan Paton's novel set in South Africa in the 1940s, but the full text was not disclosed in court.

Mr Dube, who was remanded in custody for trial on April 3, told Jabulani Sibanda, the Plumtree magistrate, that he thought it was not a serious crime to ridicule the President as newspapers printed worse criticism than his poem and nothing was done to them.

[Clive]

Welcome to the real world, Mr Dube.

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[Cincinatus' Wife]

They better get used to this.

[jim997]

A country gets the worst government it is willing to tolerate.

[Orual]

It's a crime in Zimbabwe
To ridicule Mugabe.
Mr. Dube is in prison
The Plumtree prosecutor says it's schism.
The beloved country he cried for
Is something he may die for.

Burma Shave.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

There will be many deaths if they fight. There are terrorist camps set up all over the country. Gadaffi has his henchmen helping Mugabe and the Youth Brigade is running rampant. The media has vitually been silenced. The courts are nicely stocked with pro-Mugabe's men. The people are starting to starve. The leader of the opposition has been framed and charged with treason. He is one man who can possible rally a fight but for now appears to be keeping things from getting more out of hand, hoping that temperment will bring international intervention. The prognosis doesn't look good.

[Clive]

I am somewhat concerned this morning.

I clicked on my bookmark for the Daily News and I have gotten a "403 Forbidden" message.

This site was open as late as yesterday and ZWNEWS today posted a Daily News column.

[aculeus]

It's a crime in Zimbabwe To ridicule Mugabe.
Mr. Dube is in prison
The Plumtree prosecutor says it's schism.
The beloved country he cried for
Is something he may die for.

Burma Shave.

Funny!