Nust Student Faces Legal Action for Alleged Inflammatory Remarks Against Ndebele Community on Social Media
Nust Student Faces Legal Action for Alleged Inflammatory Remarks Against Ndebele Community on Social Media Debate Ensues – A student from the National University of Science and Technology (Nust) found himself in legal trouble after posting inflammatory remarks about the Ndebele people on social media.
Tanaka Ryan Ziso, a 24-year-old final year Civil and Water Engineering student residing in Selbourne Park’s Old Mutual students accommodation complex, appeared in court following charges of causing racial offense.
The incident unfolded on 13 March 2024, when Ziso, using the pseudonym “The Royal Priest of Chitungwiza@iamryantanaka” on his X-page (formerly Twitter), posted derogatory comments targeting the Ndebele community.
The nature of his remarks was deemed too offensive for publication in mainstream media.
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Further aggravating the situation, Ziso posted another inflammatory message on 14 March 2024, exacerbating already heightened tensions. The case was brought to the attention of the authorities by Mr. Thabani Mpofu, the director of communication and marketing at Nust.
Miss Dorcas Maphosa, representing the State, emphasized that Ziso’s actions were in violation of laws against causing offense based on race, tribe, and place of origin. She noted that hard copies of Ziso’s posts were available as evidence, underscoring the seriousness of his actions in inciting racial discord.
Netizens have received the news with mixed reactions. See comments from X below:
“Vele Thabani Mpofu, director of marketing & comms at @nustzim is tjatjarag. Dzungu. Papaz. Why is he a complainant in this case? I have read Tanaka’s tweet over and over. I don’t see any criminal case here, just banter. If @nustzim wants to counsel or discipline him, fine. ” @matigary.
“What are people not understanding about the Tanaka situation? He made very crude remarks, & instead of backing down on the day he doubled down on his crass remarks. See, genocides have been perpetrated due to remarks like his going unchecked. I’m against all isms, no defense.” @Bla_Taw.
“Having Tanaka appear in front of one Nbebele Magistrate: Maxwell Ncube was prejudicial in a country riddled with tribalism. I don’t see anything illegal that Tanaka said that warrants him being remanded in custody. In fact, I have seen worse vitriol spewed on social media by Ndebeles towards Shona’s but never seen such draconian consequences. Gary Thwala even put a bounty on my head in public but there were never any consequences. This is misuse of our judicial system and Tanaka must sue the system for wrongful arrest.” @matinyarare
“Mr Mpofu is the director of comm at Nust where Tanaka is a student.Is there no disciplinary committee at Nust?Is there not a Dean of Students to talk to or to reprimand Tanaka.Was it not an inhouse matter?There are serious repercussions to this.” @nmushangwe
-Afrogazette-
