HUMAN rights lawyers have intensified their bid to secure the release from prison of a ruling ZANU PF political party youth leader, who has been languishing in jail for nearly one month, after he was arrested and charged for allegedly insulting President Emmerson Mnangagwa and for denouncing spirited manoeuvres to extend his presidential tenure from 2028 to 2030.
Tawanda Zange, a 37 year-old man, who resides in Mutoko in Mashonaland East province, who holds the position of ZANU PF Political Commissariat for Ujama Party District Youth Wing, was arrested by Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officers on 24 March 2026 after being involved in a verbal altercation with a fellow ZANU PF political party leader and charged with disorderly conduct in a public place as defined in section 41(b) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act as well as with criminal nuisance as defined in section 46 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act as read with section 2(m) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
In court, prosecutors claimed that Zange, unlawfully and intentionally used threatening or abusive and insulting words and also behaved in a threatening, abusive and insulting manner by shouting and screaming in a public place, where he allegedly uttered some unpalatable words against President Mnangagwa and his ZANU PF political party.
Prosecutors alleged that Zange uttered the distasteful words during a verbal altercation with his neighbour, Tinos Moyosvi, a 48 year-old man, who holds the position of ZANU PF Political Commissariat for Ujama Party District mainboard.
According to prosecutors, Zange reportedly uttered the words; “Pasi ne ZANU PF, pasi ne Vision 2030, chimusangano chembavha ku supporta Vision 2030 kuti murambe muchiba muripachigaro, handina vandirikutya. Pasi na MP Tasikani, Councillor Chitiyo, Chairman Masvosve, Youth Chairman Chinakidzwa pasi nawo wese. Vanhu vemu Robert Mugabe branch makapusa murikuita basa rekubirwa nema ZANU PF makatarisa musabhadhare mari ye Independence ma Councillors nema MP ngavatenge mombe dze Independence fanike uye anonzi Mudiho Vice Chairman. Vanhu vemu Robert Mugabe branch makajaidzwa stereki munoswera muchinzi bhadharai mari ye Independence ko mari yakadyiwa na Councillor Batsirai Chitiyo murikutiyi nayo akatora ma $10 evanhu achiti arikuda kugadzirisa zvibhorani, ngaatore mari iyoyo atenge mombe ye Independence. Pasi ne Vision 2030 yababa Munangagwa, pasi nawo baba Munangagwa wacho, pasi na Tasikani pasi na Chitiyo, pasi na Masvosve, pasi na Mudiho.”
Prosecutors translated the alleged utterances to mean; “Down with ZANU PF. Down with Vision 2030. A party of thieves supporting vision 2030 so that you remain in power and continue looting. I am not afraid of anyone. Down with MP Tasikani, Councillor Chitiyo, Chairman Masvosve and Youth Chairman Chinakidzwa. People in Robert Mugabe branch you are fools ZANU PF is busy stealing from you while you watch. Do not pay Independence money. Councillors and MPs should buy independence cattle such as Vice Chairman Mudiho. People in Robert Mugabe branch you are being used and told to pay Independence money, what are you saying about the money which was squandered by Councillor Batsirai Chitiyo? He took US$10 from individuals and promised to pay boreholes, he should use it to buy Independence cattle rather than being asked about Independence cattle. Down with Vision 2030 of father Munangagwa. Down with Munangagwa, Down with Tasikani, Down with Masvosve and Mudiho.”
Zange’s alleged unlawful conduct reportedly annoyed the public leading to his arrest by some ZRP officers, who detained him at Mutoko Police Station before he appeared at Mutoko Magistrates Court, where he was denied bail.
On Monday 20 April 2026, Zange’s lawyer Tinashe Chinopfukutwa of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, once again applied for his release on bail citing changed circumstances, wherein he argued that when the ZANU PF political party youth leader was first denied bail, he was accused of facing a serious offence of undermining authority of or insulting President Mnangagwa but now the charge has been altered to disorderly conduct, which is a far less serious offence.
Chinopfukutwa also argued that when Zange was first denied bail it was on the basis that he would interfere with state witnesses, who were listed as his neighbours but now he has offered an alternative address to the one which he had tendered and which cures the prosecutors’ fears of interference.
On Wednesday 22 April 2026, Mutoko Magistrate Caroline Matanga is expected to hand down her ruling on Zange’s bail application.
ENDS
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