By Own Correspondent| Authorities here have charged a 36 year-old prison officer stationed at Chiredzi Prison in Masvingo for allegedly undermining President Emmerson Mnangagwa through acknowledging opposition leader, Nelson Chamisa as President.

John Mahlabela was summoned to appear before a disciplinary hearing on Tuesday 12 June 2018 by the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS) for his political comments inviting Chamisa to visit Chiredzi in a Twitter comment.

He is being charged for contravening section 3(1) of the Prison (Sfaff) (Discipline) Regulations1984.

“According to ZPCS, Mahlabera allegedly posted a message on micro blogging site Twitter, which reads; “Come to Chiredzi my president,” said the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR).

The ZPCS said Mahlabera posted this message after an MDC-T party rally that was held at Jerera Growth Point in Zaka in Masvingo province, which was addressed by MDC Alliance presidential candidate, Chamisa.

ZPCS said by posting such a message on Twitter, Mahlabera showed loyalty to Chamisa and disloyalty to President Mnangagwa.

“The ZPCS charged that Mahlabera’s conduct was disgraceful to Mnangagwa and the prison officer had no right whatsoever to act in the manner he did,” aid the ZLHR.

Four witnesses will testify against Mahlabera during the disciplinary hearing to be conducted next month in Masvingo, where the prison officer will be represented by Collen Maboke and Blessing Nyamaropa of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights.

ZLHR’s records compiled since 2010 show that the organisation has attended to close to 200 cases where people have been arrested and charged for allegedly “insulting or undermining the authority of the President.”