Shadaya Tawona who is popularly known for creating memes that comment on social issues said that he was summoned by the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) yesterday after he retweeted a tweet from a parody account pretending to be ZEC chairperson Priscilla Chigumba.
Tawona said the police said the charges were pressed by Chigumba. He said he was released on condition that he does not leave Zimbabwe and that he reports to the police at their request. Below is Tawona’s account of the incident:
Today I was called by the ZRP (CID department) to report to their offices on charges CRIMINAL INSULT. Apparently the charges were pressed by Mrs Priscilla Chigumba, according to the information I got from the police.
I spent the entire day at Morris Depot being interrogated with regards to this matter. The accusation is that I retweeted a tweet which sought to damage her personality. The tweet was from a parody account pretending to be Mrs Chigumba.
It’s alleged that my intention for retweeting was to not only tarnish her image but incite people. Fellow
#twimbos watch what you tweet or retweet, they’re people who monitor these social media sites. You will unknowingly find yourself in trouble.I was released on conditions that I’ll not leave the country & will have to report to the police at their request. The matter is said to go into court anytime, as I’m tweeting right now I don’t even know how long I’ll be a free man.
I’m not rich or powerful, I can’t afford lawyers, so it basically the matter is out of my hands, all I can do is leave it up to God. But
#twimbos you’ve been warned, these social media streets ain’t safe anymore. Watch what you say.I think I’m even going to be deactivating some of my social media accounts, I don’t feel safe anymore, I don’t know if the memes I put will be used against me by someone else. Watch yourself
#twimbos
Shadaya don’t lie..why Morris deport not Harare central police station or PGHQ ?