Panicky Mugabe security confiscates pens
By Bridget Mananavire
State security agents confiscated hundreds of pencils, pens, markers and eyebrow pencils from National University of Science and Technology (Nust) graduands on Friday, as the writing utensils seem to have become a threat to President Robert Mugabe.
Mugabe was the guest of honour at the university’s graduation ceremony.
After the graduation, piles of the impounded pens were dumped at security checkpoints together with other sharp objects that were thought could pose a security risk to the 92-year-old leader.
The tight security measure comes on the back of protests — right in Mugabe’s face — over unemployment by graduands at the University of Zimbabwe (UZ)’s graduation ceremony last month.
One of the students — who have since been dragged before UZ’s disciplinary committee — waved an A4-sized placard inscribed “graduates today, rovha mangwana (loafer tomorrow)”, as Mugabe watched from the top table.
However, the pens seizure did not dissuade the Nust students from registering their concern over the high unemployment rate in Zimbabwe, as some shouted “mabasa ngaadzoke president (bring back the jobs president)” .
The action resulted in the arrest of Advance Musoki — a Bachelor of Commerce Honours Degree in Risk Management and Insurance graduand.
On Saturday, prosecutors accused Musoki of having shouted the words three times during the graduation ceremony and that got him charged with committing criminal nuisance in contravention of Section 46 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
Zimbabwe has an estimated unemployment rate of over 90 percent, with government failing to deliver on its 2013 election campaign promise to create 2,2 million jobs.
Meanwhile, the 23-year-old-Musoki, who was being represented by Mehluli Dube from the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), pleaded guilty to criminal nuisance charges when he appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Adeline Mbeure.
Mbeure said the way Musoki handled himself was uncalled for as it interfered with the peace at such a big event.
In her ruling, Mbeure sentenced him to two weeks’ imprisonment with an option of $50 fine payable before December 6. Daily News
