Woman who called African dictator a ‘sick man,’ released from prison on bail

THIS woman allegedly wrote two words online and ended up in jail. Now she could face 20 years in jail. But she says it is all a misunderstanding.

Martha O'Donovan arrives to court. Picture: AFP / Jekesai Njikizana

AN AMERICAN woman charged with subversion for allegedly tweeting that President Robert Mugabe was a “sick man” was freed from a Zimbabwe jail on $1000 bail.

Martha O’Donovan, 25, did not speak to reporters as she emerged from a jail in the country’s capital of Harare on Friday and left in a US Embassy vehicle, Fox News reports.

Her lawyers also did not make any statements. A judge had ordered O’Donovan be freed Thursday.

The New York native was imprisoned for nearly a week after she was accused of insulting the 93-year-old Mugabe, calling him a “sick man” in a tweet that included an image of the president with a catheter.

She has denied the charge as “baseless and malicious.”

O’Donovan, who will return to court Wednesday, faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted of subversion. She also faces a charge of undermining authority or insulting the president, which carries a penalty of up to a year in prison.

The American describes herself as a “media activist” and has been working with local social media outlet Magamba TV, which says it produces “satirical comedy sensations”.

Over the weekend, a local court dismissed an attempt by O’Donovan’s lawyer to have the charge of subversion dismissed, with the lawyer arguing police had not notified her client of the charge at the time of her arrest at her home in Harare.

Martha O'Donovan, who was arrested for undermining the authority of Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe on Twitter, arrives at Harare Magistrate's Court in Harare. Picture: AFP / Jekesai Njikizana

Amnesty International deputy regional director Muleya Mwananyanda said O’Donovan’s arrest “marks the start of a sinister new chapter in the Zimbabwean government’s clampdown of freedom of speech.”

O’Donovan’s arrest was the first since Mugabe appointed a cybersecurity minister last month, a move activists claim is targeting social media users.

The group representing her, Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, says it has represented nearly 200 people charged for allegedly insulting Mugabe in recent years.

Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe. Picture: AFP / Jekesai Njikizana

Also on Friday, a Zimbabwe state-run newspaper says four people have been arrested and accused of booing the first lady, who this week moved closer to succeeding her husband as president.

The Zimbabwe Herald reports that three men and a woman from Bulawayo are accused of booing Grace Mugabe at a ruling party rally over the weekend attended by President Robert Mugabe.

The report says they face charges of undermining the authority of the president. State prosecutor Jerry Mutsindikwa says the four allegedly sang “We hate what you’re doing” as the first lady spoke.

The 93-year-old president this week fired his deputy and longtime ally Emmerson Mnangagwa, accusing him of plotting to take power via witchcraft. Grace Mugabe is expected to replace Mnangagwa as one of Zimbabwe’s two vice presidents next month.

Frustrations have been brewing in the once-prosperous southern African nation as the economy collapses under Mugabe, the world’s oldest head of state, who has ruled since 1980.

This article originally appeared on Fox News and was reproduced with permission