Zimbabwe Makes Arrest Over Facebook Comment

Zimbabwe Makes Arrest Over Facebook Comment

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A Bulawayo man has become Zimbabwe’s first “Facebook arrest” over an innocent comment he posted on the social networking site on the 13th February. Vikas Mavhudzi of Old Magwegwe, is being charged with “subverting a constitutional government” after he posted a message on a Facebook page allegedly belonging to Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai. Mavhudzi’s message simply read: Quote: “I am overwhelmed, I don’t want to say Mr. or PM what happened in Egypt is sending shockwaves to dictators around the world. No weapon but unity of purpose worth emulating, hey.” The court was told that police arrested Mavhudzi on February 24th, after receiving an anonymous call that claimed he had sent a ‘security threat’ via his mobile phone. It was only after the arrest that police went through his phone and discovered the message in the sent folder. Prosecutor Jeremiah Mutsindikwa accused Mavhudzi of “advocating or attempting to take-over government by unconstitutional means”. And the state opposed bail when he appeared before a city magistrate on Thursday. Mavhudzi was remanded in custody till March 9th. Protests against dictators in North Africa appear to have rattled Robert Mugabe and ZANU PF, as any discussion of the events there is now considered a crime in Zimbabwe.

http://www.swradioafrica.com/news040...oman040311.htm