July 2001 Africa News Headlines

HARARE - Police have arrested five people for publicly insulting President Robert Mugabe, authorities confirmed on Friday.

One of them was Nkululeko Dube, a teacher in the western city of Bulawayo who allegedly wrote abusive remarks about the 77-year-old dictator in examination papers he set for 500 pupils last week.

The state-controlled daily Herald newspaper did not reproduce the remarks, saying they "could not be published in a family newspaper.

" The exam papers also contained "denigratory statements" about two of Mugabe' s most notorious militia warlords who died in June, as well as "sexual innuendos," the Herald said.

"He is in police custody," said police spokesman Oliver Mashonganyika.

"We will look into our books to find a fitting charge for him."

In police custody in Harare were four people who were among a small crowd of onlookers at the opening of parliament on Tuesday.

They waved banners and distributed pamphlets "ridiculing" Mugabe, police here confirmed.

They would be charged with "conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace."

The four were arrested and hustled away almost as soon as their banners appeared.

Police would not reveal what the banners said.

Mugabe, now in his 21st year of autocratic rule, has refused widespread demands to step down.

He is being held responsible for the country's economic and social crisis that has enveloped the country in poverty, through a campaign of lawlessness and violence against political opponents. - Nampa-Sapa-DPA

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