Lecturer Jailed Over Mugabe 'Donkey' Jibe

Lecturer Jailed Over Mugabe 'Donkey' Jibe

A university lecturer in Masvingo has been sentenced to three months in jail, after allegedly calling Robert Mugabe a "rotten old donkey."

Chenjerai Pamhiri, who lectures at the Great Zimbabwe State University in Masvingo, was convicted last Friday for insulting the President and is being held in remand prison. A bail hearing for Pamhiri is set to be heard sometime this week. His lawyers have also filed an application appealing the conviction and jail time.

His lawyer, Philip Shumba from the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights group, told SW Radio Africa that Pamhiri was accused of saying that Mugabe was too old be in charge.

"He (Pamhiri) was facing charges of insulting the President after it was alleged that he said the President was too old to run the country. He was convicted of insulting the President and undermining the authority of the President and he was sentenced to three months," Shumba said.

He explained that Pamhiri was arrested at his local supermarket after becoming involved in a heated exchange over political affiliations with another man there. Pamhiri was allegedly identified as an MDC supporter and he then went on to allegedly shout that Mugabe was "dirt which should be discarded, a rotten old donkey". He is also said to have urged people not to vote for Mugabe in elections expected sometime this year.

Police arrested him as he left the supermarket.

Allegations of a similar donkey themed jibe also landed student leader Solomon Madzore in jail this month. He was released on bail last week after being arrested earlier this month.

Madzore, the leader of the MDC-T Youth Assembly, was arrested for allegedly calling Mugabe a "limping donkey" who should be put out to pasture. He allegedly made the remark at a campaign rally in Mashonaland last month.