Alois Mabhunu, Zimbabwean Police Sergeant, Jailed For Using President Robert Mugabe's Toilet

In a rather unfortunate twist of fate, a Zimbabwean police sergeant's mad restroom dash is turning out to have disastrous -- and even criminal -- implications.

As the Guardian reports, Alois Mabhunu, a homicide detective in the western city of Bulawayo, was imprisoned on suspicion of invading the presidential privy after using a toilet reserved for President Robert Mugabe. The incident occurred at the annual Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF).

The Guardian quotes local radio station VOP as reporting:

"Mabhunu, due to the call of nature, rushed to the toilets reserved for Mugabe and his guest Ekra, but was stopped by other officers guarding the toilets," VOP said.

"Under intense pressure from the call of nature, the officer forced his way in and managed to relieve himself. He was arrested on 7 May after a report was made to Mugabe's security men and to senior police officers in the city."

A local human rights lawyer has called the charges into question. "There has to be a law saying the toilet is the president's, but this was a public one," Beatrice Mtetwa is quoted as saying. "They will have had to issue a proclamation in the government gazette specifying it. I bet they didn't do that." As the Daily Mail reports, Mabhunu has been held in a police detention barracks in the two weeks since his arrest, and was due to appear at a May 27 disciplinary hearing.

The 87-year-old Mugabe's personal space has always been fiercely protected. Not only have motorists who accidentally get in the way of Mugabe's motorcade been reportedly assaulted, but even depictions of the president are subject to protection: the Guardian also reports that in March, Douglas Mwonzora, a leading member of the Movement for Democratic Change, was charged with insulting the president when he reportedly looked at a portrait of Mugabe and said: "How are you, father? How is your health?"