tawandamusarurwa
Nyore Madzianike
MORE than 230 election-related cases, most of them on defacement of political posters, have been prosecuted across the country by the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ).
The authority has vowed to expeditiously deal with cases that may arise, in line with the Electoral Act.
“The NPAZ has enough competent prosecutors ready to deal with any politically motivated violence cases across the country, and all cases, once finalised by the police, will be expedited accordingly,” said NPAZ.
Defacing of political posters tops the list of reported offences, with more than 60 people having been charged.
According to the NPAZ, about 20 people have been prosecuted in Mashonaland Central province for various political-related offences, with Bindura accounting for most of the cases.
In Mashonaland West province, 15 people were charged.
Freddy Chiangwa, Manasa Ramba and Steven Saga of Karoi were sentenced to four months in jail each for removing posters and assaulting a rival political party’s followers.
Knowledge Kumbweya was charged with attempted murder after he stabbed a person wearing a party T-shirt at a shopping centre, while Lisbern and Godfrey Mugaviri were charged with torching a hut in Kadoma.
Matabeleland North recorded five cases, while Manicaland had 15, including an incident where Amos Nyakunhuwa of Mutasa was ordered to perform 105 hours of community service for poking the face of a rival party member with his finger.
Nyakunhuwa was initially sentenced to six months in jail, before three months were suspended on condition of good behaviour.
In Harare — including Chitungwiza, Epworth and Mbare — 76 people were charged with various offences.
Tonderai Maronge and Lan Munyanya were charged with welding the doors of a shop after its owner refused to attend their party’s rally.
According to NPAZ, about 30 people appeared in different courts across Masvingo province.
In Gutu, Vasco Mutyavaviri and 13 others, who are followers of independent aspiring parliamentarian George Vhengere, allegedly disrupted a rival political party gathering.
In Chiredzi, Goodson Matanda was hauled before court for alleged assault.
Mihlayifani Sibanda of Bulawayo was fined US$150 for defacing posters, while Nhlanhla Mguni was ordered to perform 105 hours of community service for accosting a person for wearing his party’s branded T-shirt.
Overall, about 20 people appeared before various courts, charged with political-related offences across Bulawayo province.
In Midlands province, Kelvin Gomo from Shurugwi was fined US$250 after defacing posters. Ashward Ngulube of Zvishavane was fined US$200 for a similar offence.
Maxwell Manatsa of Gokwe was handed 26 months in jail for causing public violence that left a trail of destruction to property and injuries to people after a clash between supporters of rival political parties.
He was initially sentenced to three years in jail, before 10 months were suspended on condition of good behaviour.
All in all, 20 people appeared in different courts across Midlands province.
In Matabeleland South, 14 people were hauled before various courts.
Beitbridge accounted for half of the offenders, with Kezi and Plumtree recording three and four cases, respectively.
Shawn Jack of Marondera in Mashonaland East province was fined US$300 and slapped with a wholly suspended three-month jail term after he set a presidential candidate’s billboard on fire.
Jack was convicted on his own plea of guilty.
Online Reporter