A police officer has been in detention for two weeks after he used a toilet specially reserved for President Robert Mugabe’s use.
Sergeant Alois Mabhunu, a police homicide detective in Bulawayo, was on surveillance duty a fortnight ago at the annual Zimbabwe International Trade Fair when he received an urgent call of nature, local radio station Radio VoP said.
He rushed to the first toilet he could see, which happened to be a privy being guarded for Mugabe’s use during his appearance at the show. Police guards tried to block Mabhunu’s access, but he fought his way through and locked himself in, VoP said, quoting from a police charge sheet.
Having relieved himself, he left and resumed his duties. But the toilet guards reported the incident to the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO), which is responsible for Mugabe’s protection, and he was arrested the next day. Mabhunu was due to appear on Friday before a police disciplinary hearing, VoP said.
Police spokesman Mandlenkosi Moyo refused comment, saying it was an “internal matter”. Human rights lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa questioned what offence Mabhunu was being charged with.
“There has to be a law saying the toilet is the president’s, but this was a public one. They will have had to issue a proclamation in the government gazette specifying it. I bet they didn’t do that.”
Mugabe, 87, is fiercely protected by large squadrons of secret police and soldiers wherever he goes. Motorists who accidentally get in the way of his motorcade are routinely assaulted, and have no recourse to the law.
Douglas Mwonzora, a leading member of the Movement for Democratic Change, was standing in court in March waiting for a magistrate to arrive when he looked at a portrait of Mugabe and said: “How are you, father? How is your health?”
There was mirth in the courtroom but police subsequently charged Mwonzora with insulting the president, an offence punishable by up to a year in prison.
Another man will go on trial next month charged with posting an offensive message on Facebook. Vikas Mavhudzi allegedly wrote on Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s “wall”: “What happened in Egypt is sending shockwaves to all dictators around the world. No weapon but unity of purpose. Worth emulating, hey.” SAPA/Staff Reporter
