Leader of Zimbabwe party held for swearing at president

By John Cassim

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AA) - The leader of a newly formed Zimbabwean political party was arrested Monday for swearing at the country’s president, his lawyer said.

Acie Lumumba, 28, shocked a news conference on Thursday when he swore at the 92-year-old President Robert Mugabe.

His lawyer Agency Gumbo told Anadolu Agency that he was being held in a police station in the capital Harare.

“Lumumba is in police custody,” he said. “He is being held at Rhodesville police station. He has been charged with undermining the office of the president, alternatively insulting the president, by using the F-word against him.”

Lumumba, a former youth leader in Mugabe’s Zanu-PF, is likely to appear in court after a 48-hour detention limit.

Gumbo said he had handed himself in to police after disappearing following Thursday’s media launch of his Viva Zimbabwe party.

“The charge is informed by a draconian and unconstitutional piece of legislation which was ruled out by the Constitutional Court as being unconstitutional early this year,” Gumbo said.

“This shows you how desperate the Zanu-PF government is -- trying to silence all forms of dissent and thwarting any form of direct opposition.”