Nine women in Zimbabwe who were arrested for allegedly booing the first lady have had the charges against them dropped, according to local media reports.
The charges were withdrawn on the instructions of First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa, with presidential spokesperson George Charamba stating that both the first lady and the police commissioner general agreed that the officers on the ground had overreacted.
The women, aged between 19 and 49, were accused of booing Mrs. Mnangagwa after missing out on food and clothing handouts that she was distributing at a charity event in the eastern Manicaland province. The Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZHLR), who represented the women in court, stated that prosecutors alleged the women stood up and booed the first lady during her closing remarks in an attempt to disrupt her speech and show their displeasure at not receiving anything from her.
The women were charged with disorderly conduct and accused of unlawful, abusive, and insulting behavior towards the first lady. However, ZHLR reported that the women denied the charges, arguing that they were arrested for leaving the event while the first lady was still speaking.
This incident highlights the importance of freedom of expression and the right to peaceful protest, even in the face of disagreements with public figures. The dropping of charges against the women is a positive development, signaling a recognition of their rights and the right to express dissent.
