Designer arrested for using photoshop on Mugabe's picture
Published: 2013 February 05 01:29:02 (4340 Views)
Professional graphic designer Ronald Chikambure appeared in court on Tuesday charged with 'undermining the office of the President'. The charges are linked to a picture he edited, using the Photoshop software, where his own face was edited onto the body of Robert Mugabe.
The state prosecutor told the court this week that police were given a tip-off that Chikambure had the picture on the wall of his office. The prosecutor said that "the picture had been edited to give a false impression to people who entered Chikambure's office that it was him in the picture, and not the President."
Police did not find the picture when they searched Chikambure's offices, but they did find a copy on his laptop. Chikambure has pleaded not guilty to any crime.
Activist Phillip Pasirayi from the Centre for Community Development in Zimbabwe (CCDZ) told SW Radio Africa that this incident shows that "we are still living in a dictatorship."
"This strategy of muzzling people, it is a strategy of ZANU PF to silence critics, to silence civil society, to silence the media, to silence anyone," Pasirayi said.
He added that repeated criminal cases using 'insult laws' were a sign of the party's "paranoia." He also emphasised that making a joke, drawing a caricature or changing a picture for personal use was not an offence.
"In an advanced democracy it is normal to criticise political leaders and government leaders in such a fashion. And the government should be drawing lessons from what the criticisms are about," Pasirayi said.
He urged the Zim government to "reflect on that which they are insulted by and address the concerns without restoring to insult laws to prosecute people."
- myzim
The state prosecutor told the court this week that police were given a tip-off that Chikambure had the picture on the wall of his office. The prosecutor said that "the picture had been edited to give a false impression to people who entered Chikambure's office that it was him in the picture, and not the President."
Police did not find the picture when they searched Chikambure's offices, but they did find a copy on his laptop. Chikambure has pleaded not guilty to any crime.
Activist Phillip Pasirayi from the Centre for Community Development in Zimbabwe (CCDZ) told SW Radio Africa that this incident shows that "we are still living in a dictatorship."
"This strategy of muzzling people, it is a strategy of ZANU PF to silence critics, to silence civil society, to silence the media, to silence anyone," Pasirayi said.
He added that repeated criminal cases using 'insult laws' were a sign of the party's "paranoia." He also emphasised that making a joke, drawing a caricature or changing a picture for personal use was not an offence.
"In an advanced democracy it is normal to criticise political leaders and government leaders in such a fashion. And the government should be drawing lessons from what the criticisms are about," Pasirayi said.
He urged the Zim government to "reflect on that which they are insulted by and address the concerns without restoring to insult laws to prosecute people."
- myzim
0
You May Like These Videos
WATCH: Victims Narrate Ordeal After Being Clobbered By Riot Cops
FLASHBACK: Morgan Tsvangirai Won't Resign Despite Illness 
Police Violently Beat Harare Protesters 
Zimbabwean Man Who Was Shot By Tswana Employer Appeals For HelpComments
There are no comments.
Get Zim Metro Updates Alerts
Big Reads
Schoolgirl drops out after continuous 'sexual abuse' by teacher
by Staff Reporter | 2019 August 13 07:42:33
Mugabe Knows Nothing About The Zimbabwe Constitution: MP
by Staff Reporter | 2016 October 01 08:12:02
Zim's Protesting Graduates Risk Losing Degrees For Expressing Anger Against Mugabe
by Staff Reporter | 2016 October 01 07:57:08
Troubled Harare Giants Dynamos Falls Into Another Deep Crisis
by Own Correspondent | 2016 October 01 07:49:17
Grace Mugabe Grovels At Mnangagwa, Says I Did Not Ask Ubaba To Fire You
by Staff Reporter | 2016 October 01 07:31:48
Mugabe Attacks Mawarire, Claims The Exiled Pastor Failed To Divide Zimbabwe
by Staff Reporter | 2016 October 01 07:19:13
Shock As Local Bank Denies 'Rich' Mugabe's Son Heifty Credit
by Own Correspondent | 2016 September 30 19:14:54Trouble For Police Officers Who Have Been Mercilessly Bludgeoning Protesters
by Staff Reporter | 2016 October 01 07:20:19
Mugabe "Home Coming" And "Thank You" Rally On Cards
by Own Correspondent | 2016 September 23 06:48:24
Prof Moyo Was Dumped By Western Embassies, Claims Mutsvangwa
by Staff Reporter | 2016 September 22 10:08:07Broke RBZ Tracks Down Zimbabweans Living Outside The Country Over Taxi
by Staff Reporter | 2016 September 22 09:16:20
You Are Too Old To Lead, Aging Zim President Mugabe Told
by Own Correspondent | 2016 September 22 07:19:25
Anti-Corruption Commission Loses Property In Failed Probe
by Own Correspondent | 2016 September 20 03:18:19
.jpg)
SHOCKING:14 Year Old HIV-Positive Boy Rapes 7 Pupils
by Own Correspondent | 2016 September 20 00:04:55
