Jonasi in court for ‘undermining’ Mnangagwa

By Tarisai Machakaire

Ideal Zimbabwe leader Tinashe Jonasi was on Wednesday charged with undermining President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s authority after he reportedly insulted him during a television interview.

Jonasi, 42, was represented by Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights member Nontokozo Tachiona when he appeared before Harare magistrate Rumbidzayi Mugwagwa and was remanded in custody pending a ruling on his application challenging placement on remand.

Tachiona challenged Jonasi’s placement on remand because she had not been furnished with a requisite authority for prosecution as prescribed by the law.

She also argued that the State had breached the 48-hour provision within which an accused ought to have appeared before a court.

According to State papers, on an unknown date Jonasi was invited for an interview aired on a foreign TV station and insulted Mnangagwa in his remarks.

He reportedly said: “…Mnangagwa has killed thirty thousand people why would people defend that maybe he could not kill maybe one or two people. Eee…on record…he Mnangagwa…can open a police case and then I can face him in court and prove to him that he is a killer…” Daily News