HARARE – A 34-year-old man from Manicaland province has been released from custody after the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ) declined to pursue charges against him for allegedly insulting President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Alfred Ngonidzaishe Machakaire, who resides in Gowo village under Chief Makoni in Inyati, Makoni District, was arrested on Feb. 24 and spent 36 days in detention—first in police custody and later at Rusape Prison.
Machakaire had been charged under Section 33(2)(a)(b) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act for allegedly undermining the authority of or insulting the President.
According to prosecutors, Machakaire became involved in a heated exchange with Leonard Chidemo, a ZANU PF councillor for Ward 5 in Makoni North constituency, while at Mugadza Bottle Store in Chendambuya. The altercation reportedly began after Machakaire asked Chidemo to buy him a beer, and Chidemo declined.
Machakaire allegedly responded by shouting obscenities about the President, including statements such as, “Down with Mnangagwa… Mnangagwa is a vagina… you have caused the death of people in the country.” He also reportedly praised Geza, a former liberation war veteran and ZANU PF central committee member who was recently expelled from the ruling party for opposing efforts to amend the Constitution to allow President Mnangagwa to extend his stay in office beyond the two-term limit.
On April 1, the NPA formally declined to prosecute Machakaire, and he was released from custody. He had been represented by Leonard Chigadza of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR).
ZLHR confirmed Machakaire’s release and noted that he is the latest in a growing list of individuals facing prosecution under insult laws, only to have charges dropped. Last week, the NPA also halted prosecution of Ishmael Maukazuva, a councillor from Chikomba West constituency, who had also been detained over similar charges.
Human rights groups have long criticized Section 33 of the Criminal Code as being vague and prone to abuse, often used to stifle dissent.
