By Enyichukwu Enemanna
A Ugandan tourist detained for 24 days in a Zimbabwean prison for being in possession of a sex toy has been acquitted, a development that will be followed by immediate deportation to his home country.
Tom Ssekamwa, 24, was taken into custody on August 2 in Masvingo, a city some 292km away from South of Harare, along with Czech national Lucas Slavik.
A rubber sex toy was discovered in Ssekamwa’s luggage during a police search.
He was charged with among other things criminal nuisance and violation of the Censorship Act. The charges were this week dismissed by magistrate Isaac Chikura.
The magistrate ruled that Ssekamwa’s possession of the item did not threaten public order or create a disturbance, emphasizing that the toy was not intended for public exhibition.
Ssekamwa’s legal representative, Knowledge Mabvuure of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), stated that his client is now in the hands of immigration authorities, awaiting expulsion.
The process is currently delayed because Ssekamwa’s phone, which he needs to access funds for purchasing an airline ticket, was confiscated by the police.
Lucas Slavik, Ssekamwa’s travel companion, faced allegations of inciting public unrest after allegedly filming a video claiming that Masvingo lacked water and electricity.
Although additional charges against Slavik were dropped, he was acquitted and deported last week.
