Local media in Zimbabwe report that nine women, who were arrested for allegedly booing the first lady, have had their charges dropped.
According to presidential spokesperson George Charamba, the charges were withdrawn on the instructions of First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa.
“Both the first lady and police commissioner general agreed the officers on the ground overreacted,” Mr Charamba was quoted as saying.
The women, aged between 19 and 49, were reportedly accused of booing Mrs. Mnangagwa after not receiving food and clothing handouts she was distributing at a charity event in the eastern Manicaland province last Wednesday.
“Prosecutors charged that the women, who were seated on the ground stood up and started booing the first lady while she was making her closing remarks during her address intending to disrupt her speech and show disgruntlement that they had not received anything from her,” the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZHLR), who represented the women in court, said.
They had been accused of “unlawful, abusive and insulting” behaviour towards the first lady and were subsequently charged with disorderly conduct, ZHLR added.
The organisation said the women denied the charges, arguing that they had been arrested for leaving the event while the first lady was still speaking.
The organization stated that the women refuted the allegations, contending that they were arrested for departing the event while the first lady was still addressing the audience.