The incident occurred on April 10 at Watsomba Business Centre in Manicaland province, where the First Lady was distributing donations.
Posting on their Twitter account, the lawyers stated: “We rescued 9 women from detention after they were arrested and charged for allegedly booing First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa during her address at Watsomba Business Centre on 10 April where they reportedly failed to receive some donations, which she was doling out as part of her charitable work.”
The nine women, identified as Nester Chatiwana, Panashe Machekanzondo, Winnet Sithole, Maria Choto, Esnath Choto, Ellen Rujuwa, Faith Chidhakwa, Patience Matasva, and Joyce Mashingaidza, were accused of disrupting Mnangagwa’s speech by booing her.
“In court, prosecutors claimed that the nine women, who reside in various villages located near Watsomba Business Centre, stood up and disrupted Mnangagwa’s delivery of her speech by booing her as a way of showing their frustration at not being given some groceries and clothes, which she was doling out to people.”
“Prosecutors charged that the women, who were seated on the ground, stood up and started booing the First Lady while she was making her closing remarks during her address, intending to disrupt her speech and show disgruntlement that they had not received anything from her,” said the lawyers.
However, the defense lawyers representing the women argued that they were unfairly targeted during a mass arrest.
They maintained that the women had left the venue early, while the First Lady was still addressing the crowd.
The ZLHR, leading the defense of the nine women, successfully convinced the authorities to withdraw the charges.
Tatenda Sigauke and David Tandiri from ZLHR represented the women during the legal proceedings. The women were released on free bail and are expected to return to court on April 30th.
