Minister sacked over offensive tweet
Publish date: 25 May 2020
Issue Number: 874
Diary: IBA Legalbrief Africa
Category: Zimbabwe
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has fired outspoken Deputy Information Minister Energy Mutodi hours after he insulted three 'abducted' opposition officials in a tweet. As previously reported in Legalbrief Today, a prominent MDC lawmaker and two party officials were originally arrested for protesting over food shortages last week. A report on the News24 site notes that they were then abducted from a police station by unidentified men and claim they were sexually assaulted. In his tweet, Mutodi claimed the women 'went out for a romantic night with their lovers'. He said they were assaulted 'when they demanded foreign currency for their services'. A statement from the presidency did not give reasons for the immediate 'termination of employment'.