How Africa
A Zimbabwean journalist charged with criminal nuisance over a story that First Lady Grace Mugabe had donated used underwear has been released on bail after two days behind bars.
A legal aid group, Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), confirmed on Wednesday that Kenneth Nyangani was released on a $200 bail bond.
The contentious story published in the privately-owned NewsDay portal said First Lady Grace Mugabehad made a donation of underwear to party faithful through a legislator.
Incidentally the journalist was arrested in the evening of October 2, the same day the story was published. He was officially charged by the Zimbabwe Republic Police on Tuesday evening.
We have secured release of @NewsDayZimbabwe journalist Kenneth Nyangani on $200 bail after his arrest 4 the Grace Mugabe's panties donation
— ZLHR (@ZLHRLawyers) October 4, 2017
Facts of the case as presented by ZLHR said
Newsday reported that Esau Mupfumi, a ruling party’s Member of Parliament had donated items from the First Lady comprising used undergarments and night garbs to some ZANU PF party supporters at a meeting over the weekend.
The police case leading to Nyangani’s arrest was filed by Mupfumi. The MP deposed to a statement which according to ZLHR makes it “unclear if the legislator is the complainant himself or the First Lady.”
#GraceMugabe
Grace is on 🔥, how can one donate used underwears
What about clothes or something
Or Sell those 2 Rolls Royce she bought pic.twitter.com/nAoAS2SSrL— UNIQUE LIVINGSTONE (@RAPHETHAL) October 4, 2017
Second-hand clothing is a big deal in parts of the continent where they are the clothing of choice for most people. Some countries like Rwanda and Kenya have banned them even though in Zimbabwe they are still allowed.
It is said that landlocked Zimbabwe gets its second-hand clothes supply from neighbouring Mozambique. Zimbabwe is currently facing an economic crisis that led to the introduction of bond notes to check hyperinflation.
