Zimbabwe lawmaker charged to court for insulting Grace Mugabe

A member of parliament appeared in court on
Monday, December 14, for insulting President
Robert Mugabe's wife, Grace, during a verbal
exchange with another party member.
Justice Wadyajena, 35, was charged with
"criminal insult or, alternatively, conduct likely to
provoke the breach of peace" when he appeared
before magistrate Lindiwe Maphosa in the resort
town of Victoria Falls.
Prosecutor Listen Nare told the court that the
lawmaker "used abusive or insulting language"
against a party member who had a portrait of
Grace Mugabe and a slogan calling on party
members to rally behind her, emblazoned on his
car.
The MP and party member Jimayi Muduvuri were
both attending the ZANU-PF annual conference on
Victoria Falls.
Wadyajena was quoted in court papers as having
told Muduvuri: "You are a fool as well as that
mother of yours."
The first lady is referred to as "mother" by the
ruling party supporters.
Wadyajena has been linked to a faction of ZANU-
PF loyal to Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa
who is seen as Mugabe's heir while Muduvuri, a
businessman, is seen as belonging to a group in
the party opposed to Mnangagwa's bid to
succeed Africa's oldest leader.
Wadyajena was granted $800 bail and is expected
to go on trial in January 5.