Zimbabwean journalist arrested for “defaming” Mugabe’s wife

A Zimbabwean journalist has been detained for writing a news story deemed insulting to the country’s first lady, Grace Mugabe, a legal aid group said on Tuesday.

Kenneth Nyangani of the privately-owned Newsday newspaper was detained late Monday, police spokeswoman, Charity Charamba, confirmed, adding that a full statement would later be issued on the case.

Nyangani had written an article alleging that the first lady — a notorious shopper with a penchant for designer goods — had made a charitable donation of clothes, including used undergarments, to supporters of her husband’s Zanu-PF party.

“We understand police officers are planning on charging him with criminal defamation,” said Kumbirai Mafunda, spokesman for Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, the group representing the journalist.

Reuters