BULAWAYO - A woman who allegedly referred to President Robert Mugabe as a poor man was yesterday left banking on her advanced age to walk free after being hauled to court.

Stella Scouter, who runs a crèche in Bulawayo, is facing four counts for insulting or undermining the authority of the 89-year-old president after she allegedly told an employee to go and get his salary from “poor” Mugabe.

Scouter is 75 and her lawyers say at such an advanced age, she poses no threat.

Scouter’s lawyer Modicai Donga told a magistrate yesterday that the State summoned her to court without being authorised by the Attorney General as stated by the rules.

He also argued that Scouter was harmless due to her age.

The magistrate ruled that the case will resume after the State has been authorised by the AG.

Prosecutor Tarisai Mutarisi told the court that in November last year, Souter’s employee, Tafadzwa Satimburwa demanded his salary but was told: “You should go and claim the money from Mugabe. You and your president are very poor; you can’t win the case against me.”

In January, the 75-year-old is alleged to have also told employees: “I want to chase you from work and see what Mugabe would do to me.”

The State says an informant reported to police after Scouter continued insulting Mugabe on different occasions. - Nyasha Chingono