Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, First Lady Grace Mugabe and sculptor Dominic Benhura standing next to the statue. The image has been shared widely on Twitter. This one was shared by ‏@Quables.

Zimbabweans online are mocking a new statue of Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe designed by a popular Zimbabwean sculptor Dominic Benhura.

The 92-year-old president has been facing street protests and sustained anti-government campaigns on social media by citizens frustrated by corruption, unemployment and cash crisis. The mocking of the statue is seen as an extension of internet-based opposition to his continued stay in power — he has served as president for 30 years now.

Lance Guma envisioned the future of the statue when Mugabe falls:

Good thing Dominic #Benhura made this ugly statue of #Mugabe. Citizens will enjoy knocking it down when he falls. pic.twitter.com/vQswJS5cH8

— Lance Guma (@LanceGuma) September 10, 2016

Twitter user Asura suggested that a dictator needs to have a better statue:

Seriously Mugabe,if your gonna be a dictator demand only the best statues to showcase you megalomania #MugabeStatue pic.twitter.com/g4giqhakh3

— Asura (@ClivePilusa95) September 10, 2016

The next statue will probably be designed by a non-Zimbabwean, @ali_naka suggested:

Mugabe doesn't trust ZIM doctors, he will no longer trust ZIM sculptors after getting abused in this manner #MugabeStatue

— African (@ali_naka) September 10, 2016

Mugabe is known for traveling to Asian countries for medical treatment.

Another user compared the statue to one of the characters from American animated sitcom The Simpsons:

Man made Mugabe look like a Simpsons character😂😂😂😂 #mugabestatue pic.twitter.com/oMEIhnq6OS

— future millionaire (@_vxlery_) September 11, 2016

African jokingly said the statue is “sculptor terrorism”:

This statue is UnAfrican – Mugabe is a victim of Sculptor Terrorism pic.twitter.com/OEbEkiUr9y

— African (@ali_naka) September 10, 2016

@chimurengamusic quipped:

Mugabe's statue story tells us abt how his appetite for being hero worshipped has backfired. He gets lively at evry praise sign. Now watch

— Dr. Thomas Mapfumo (@chimurengamusic) September 10, 2016

Mduduzi thought it was a miracle that the statue was approved:

We credit ‘effort’ in any endevour, but Benhura's statue of President Mugabe is so hideous it's a miracle it was approved

— Mduduzi Mathuthu (@Mathuthu) September 10, 2016

The sculptor, Dominic, did not survive the mocking:

The native who did the #MugabeStatue will heading for exile very soon

— African (@ali_naka) September 10, 2016

The poor chap is probably at Chikurubi prison by now #MugabeStatue pic.twitter.com/UPk8BgUlDH

— Public Protester (@Pasco_e) September 11, 2016

Chikurubi is a maximum security prison in Harare.

Grace Mugabe, the first lady, was not spared either:

I have no idea. Grace might have created this. Matches her dress sense 😂😂 #MugabeStatue #ThisStatue https://t.co/RW9FQmbyYp

— Trevor Ncube (@TrevorNcube) September 10, 2016

Apparently, the first lady dressed for misdirection:

When u know the sculpture ugly so you ask yoyr wife to dress uglier just to confuse the haters😎 yolo #MugabeStatue pic.twitter.com/sV3FnuH5y2

— SIX (@Nomie_fied) September 11, 2016

And what about a ring for each finger?

I showed my sister the picture of Mugabe's statue and the first thing(s) she noticed was the fact that the lady is wearing 10 rings.

— P.Sigenu (@PSigenu1993) September 14, 2016

In this photo, the first lady appears to be wearing a ring in all her 10 fingers.

Kgopolo Phil Mphela, however, came to the defence of sculptor Dominic Benhura:

#MugabeStatue debacle is unfortunate but Dominic Benhura is a talented African sculptor. Abstract art!! pic.twitter.com/lWY4xqcxUh

— Kgopolo Phil Mphela (@PhilMphela) September 11, 2016