The legislator, Lillian Karenyi, from Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) party was on Monday charged with undermining the authority of the president, a crime that carries a 20-year prison sentence.

She was denied bail as state prosecutors claimed that she could be severely harmed by Mugabe's supporters once released.

Prosecutor Truman Joma told a magistrates court Monday that Karenyi had accused Mugabe of double standards by criticising the MDC for allegedly being pro-gay, while elements of Zanu PF had endorsed gay rights in some of the country's laws.

"Zanu PF members have been attacking MDC president Tsvangirai alleging he is pro-homosexuals yet Robert Mugabe has practiced homosexuality with Jonathan Moyo and Canaan Banana," the legislator allegedly told a meeting in Chimanimani, 400 kilometres east of the capital, Harare.

The late Banana was Zimbabwe's first post-independence president and was jailed for sodomy after he was found guilty in 1999 of sodomising his aide.

Prosecutors allege that the statements were not only meant to cause hate against the president, but also to demean him and cause acrimony between Zanu PF and MDC-T.

Mugabe is renowned for his hatred for gays and has referred to them in the past as being worse than dogs and pigs.

In November, he threatened to severely punish Zimbabwean youths caught practicing homosexuality.
 Mugabe, however, did not elaborate on what measures will constitute severe punishment.

He also called British Prime Minister David Cameron satanic after his statement that Britain would suspend aid to states that criminalise gays.

Meanwhile, on Monday, a lawyer from the small town of Bindura was released from jail after spending four days without trial for allegedly insulting the 87 year old president during a bar brawl.

By Special correspondent