Zimbabwe Minister Detained Over Alleged Mugabe Insult

A Zimbabwean Minister and top member of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's party was detained by Police on Wednesday over allegations that he had insulted President Robert Mugabe, his lawyers said. The nature of the insult was unclear.
Elton Mangoma, who acts as energy minister and a member of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), had been detained in the past over similar accusations.

Police were not immediately available for comment.

Authorities frequently arrest people accused of insulting Mugabe who had been at the helm of the troubled southern African nation since 1980.

Mugabe's Zanu-PF and the MDC had been in a shaky coalition government since 2009.

Elections are expected to take place in 2013.