No flipping the bird

The week's news at a glance.

Harare, Zimbabwe

The government of the increasingly unpopular President Robert Mugabe has declared it a crime to make any “abusive, indecent, or obscene” gesture at the president’s motorcade. Mugabe tends to barrel through the streets in a convoy of limousines and 4x4s filled with soldiers, which locals call “Bob and the Wailers” because of the screaming sirens. Pedestrians are supposed to stand aside respectfully so the motorcade can pass. But as the state’s disastrous policy of confiscating white-owned farms spreads famine across the country, angry activists have been demonstrating in the streets. The new laws could send such people to jail. “If anything is an admission that your subjects dislike you,” said David Coltart of the Movement for Democratic Change, “it’s these regulations.”

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up
To continue reading this article...
Continue reading this article and get limited website access each month.
Get unlimited website access, exclusive newsletters plus much more.
Cancel or pause at any time.
Already a subscriber to The Week?
Not sure which email you used for your subscription? Contact us