Zimbabwe man fined for Mugabe death joke
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Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe arrives at a leaders meeting at the African Union (AU) in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa July 14, 2012. A Zimbabwe court fined a man US$150 (S$186) for joking that President Robert Mugabe had died, a daily newspaper reported on Thursday. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
HARARE (AFP) - A Zimbabwe court fined a man US$150 (S$186) for joking that President Robert Mugabe had died, a daily newspaper reported on 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.
