Grace Mugabe hecklers released on $50 bail

Four Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front youths who were arrested for heckling First Lady Grace Mugabe at the youth interface rally in Bulawayo on Saturday have been released on $50 bail each today and remanded to 24 November.

Mabutho Lucky Moyo of Lobengula, Mayibongwe Evans Zvigadza of Barbourfields, Walter Sibanda of Tshabalala and Dephine Dzvange of Nketa 7 allegedly booed the First Lady after she said Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo was being persecuted for nothing.

They allegedly started singing: “Into oyenzayo siyayizonda” meaning we hate what you are doing as Grace was addressing the rally.

The four were accused of undermining the authority of the President.

Magistrate Franklin Mkhwananzi said there was no compelling reason to deny the four bail and ordered them back in court in two weeks.

They were released on $50 bail each and barred from attending the youth rally in Harare. Its date has not yet been announced.

Those who heckled the First Lady were said to have been hired by Emmerson Mnangagwa who Mugabe threatened to fire when he addressed the same gathering after his wife.

Mugabe fired Mnangagwa two days later.

The arrest of the four has been widely condemned as it shows lack of tolerance by the ZANU-PF leadership.

Some are questioning why the four were arrested because they did not jeer at Mugabe but at his wife.

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