Politician who called Robert Mugabe a 'goblin' facing jail

A prominent opposition politician in Zimbabwe has been charged for allegedly calling President Robert Mugabe "a goblin". The politician, Douglas Mwonzora, is a leader of the Movement for Democratic Change and is the joint head of a parliamentary commission drafting a new constitution.

He allegedly made the goblin reference at a political rally before presidential and parliamentary elections more than a year ago, but was charged only last week, his lawyer, Lewis Uriri, said yesterday.

In Zimbabwean tribal mythology, goblins are said to be feared as "hideous creatures with evil powers". Mr Mwonzora faces a year in jail if found guilty.



MDC officials say the charge is another attempt by authorities to intimidate opposition leaders opposed to the Mugabe regime. The MDC won the election but was forced into a second-round presidential ballot, which was preceded by violence in which more 100 MDC supporters were murdered, and thousands tortured and made homeless.

Hundreds of people have in the past been arrested and fined or jailed under laws that make it an offence to make derisory comments about Mugabe, who has been in power for nearly 30 years.

Last week, an MDC official in southern Zimbabwe was arrested for telling a party rally that the people must not allow Mugabe to cheat them in elections again.