Chinhoyi Councillors Escape Jail After Insulting Woman in WhatsApp Group

Two Chinhoyi councillors narrowly avoided jail after they were convicted for insulting a woman in a WhatsApp group, a case that underscores the growing legal consequences of online harassment in Zimbabwe.

Councillors Ruth Chikukwa and Jacqueline Zenda were charged under the Cyber Security and Data Protection Act after their offensive messages targeted a woman named Linda Sauramba.

Although the court found them guilty, they managed to avoid a three-month jail term by paying a US$350 fine each.

The matter dates back to 17 November, when Chikukwa sent an insulting message about Sauramba in a WhatsApp group.

Zenda later added to the attack, calling Sauramba a “prostitute” and accusing her of failing to take advantage of opportunities in her life.

Feeling threatened and humiliated, Sauramba reported the matter to the police, leading to the arrest and prosecution of the two councillors.

The court ruled that their conduct was unlawful, stressing that digital platforms are not exempt from legal accountability.

Had they failed to pay the fines, both women would have been jailed a development that would have marked one of Zimbabwe’s earliest imprisonments for social media-related abuse.