Zimbabwe journalists arrested over Mugabe article

By John Cassim

HARAE, Zimbabwe (AA) - Three Zimbabwean journalists were arrested Friday morning for insulting the country’s aging strongman president.

Zimbabwean police claim that the journalists -- reporter Richard Chidza, editor Wisdom Mudzungairi, and Sifikile Thabete, an executive at the daily NewsDay -- insulted 93-year-old President Robert Mugabe in a Thursday article titled "Mugabe in fresh health scare" alleging that he is suffering from prostate cancer.

The frail nonagenarian, the oldest serving head of state in the world, is alleged to have hurriedly flown to Singapore early this week when his health deteriorated.

According to lawyer Obey Shava, the three have been officially charged for insulting the president and are being held at Harare Central Police station.

"The police have charged them for contravening Section 33, of the Codification Act, that is to say they insulted the president," Shava told Anadolu Agency. “But we are negotiating for their release.”

If convicted, the three could face sentences of not more than 12 months and a possible fine.

The controversial Mugabe has served as the country’s president since 1987 and in 1980-1987 was its prime minister.