Zimbabwe man fined for Mugabe death joke

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A Zimbabwe court fined a man $150 (120 euro) for joking that President Robert Mugabe had died, a daily newspaper reported Thursday. Cleapas Manangazira, 34, was convicted for undermining the authority of the president in a court in central city Gweru. Manangazira joked to police about Mugabe’s death when the bus he was traveling in stopped at a tollgate on the road to Gweru, according to the privately-owned NewsDay.
“Why are you police officers sitting here. Don’t you know the President is dead,” prosecutors quoted Manangazira as saying. “We are coming from putting a tombstone on Mugabe’s grave. Did you hear me people? Mugabe is dead.” Bus drivers tried to silence him but the man went on joking about the long-time ruler. Reports surface often on arrests for slandering Zimbabwe’s long-time president and breaching the strict public order law. Usually those found guilty receive light jail sentences or fines or are ordered to do community service.

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