Police Officer Put Behind Bars For Saying President Mnangagwa Has Failed

Police officer, constable Talson Hove (30) stationed at the Lupane Police Station, who is accused of insulting President Emmerson Mnangagwa, was convicted by the police disciplinary court and sentenced to 14 days in detention.

Hove’s lawyer Bruce Masamvu confirmed the development on Friday saying the disciplinary court was presided over by a Superintendent Mutepfe. Masamvu said:

Hove has been convicted at police trial and sentenced to 14 days in detention and ordered to pay a  fine of $300. He was convicted for saying Mnangagwa has failed and ‘our salary is now equivalent to US$100 only.’

Hove is among a number of people who have so far bee arrested for remarking that president Mnangagwa has failed to rule Zimbabwe resulting in the country’s economy deteriorating at an unparalleled rate since Mnangagwa took over from his long time boss and mentor, the late Robert Mugabe.

Mnangagwa took over in 2017 giving the nation high hopes that he would turn around of the fortunes of the troubled, but, the opposed has transpired so far with economic and humanitarian and political crises having worsened.

Prior to the conviction, Hove had applied for discharge citing violation of his right to free expression but the disciplinary court dismissed his application for discharge and ruled that he should proceed to trial.

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