Zimbabwe deports tourist jailed for possessing sex toy

A Ugandan tourist, who spent 24 days in a Zimbabwean jail for possessing a sex toy, is now awaiting deportation after he was acquitted of the charges. Tom Ssekamwa was arrested alongside Czech tourist Lucas Slavik on 2 August, The East African reports. The two were detained at the height of a government crackdown on dissent ahead of the SADC summit that saw over 200 opposition and civil society activists being held for allegedly plotting to disrupt the event. Ssekamwa was acquitted this week by Magistrate Isaac Chikura of the charge of criminal nuisance. He was also cleared of charges of violating the Censorship Act for being found with a rubber male organ in his bag. The magistrate ruled that Ssekamwa’s possession of the sex toy did not compromise the public or cause any nuisance. His lawyer – Knowledge Mabvuure from the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights – said his client was in the custody of the Immigration Department awaiting deportation. Slavik was charged with publishing false statements with the intention to incite the public. Prosecutors said he recorded a statement in a video saying there was no water or electricity in Masvingo. The prosecution dropped another charge against Slavik in which he was accused of being a criminal nuisance.

Full report in The East African