Night Shadaya Tawona (25) from Chitungwiza, who is popularly known for creating memes that comment on social issues appeared before Harare magistrate Rumbidzai Mugwagwa on Wednesday, facing charges of criminal insult. Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) chairperson Priscilla Chigumba pressed charges against Tawona after he allegedly retweeted a tweet from a parody account pretending to be her. The tweet said,
I can’t wait for the election fiasco to come to an end. I could do with a holiday and some good sex. My body needs a break.
Chigumba alleged that the tweet sought to tarnish her image and to incite people. Tawona pleaded guilty to the charges and told the court that he was drunk when he retweeted the said tweet. He apologised for his actions and told the court that after coming to his senses the following morning, he deleted the retweet. Said Shadaya,
I don’t know who owns that account or its origin and all I can ask for is mercy. What I did was not intentional, even when I heard about the charges I’m facing, I apologised on all social media platforms and even warned others against making the same mistake.
Shadaya will spend the night at home and not at the remand prison after magistrate Mugwagwa remanded him on free bail to Thursday for judgement. Commenting on the matter, Zec commissioner Netsai Mushonga said,
It’s great that some people are facing Justice.
Akapusa uyu, a retweet ndoinosungirwa munhu??? dai kurikunzi he owns the fake account, mitemo yemuzim sooo, hakuna kunoenda nyika iyoyo. How can 1 be arrested for a retweet like seriously