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TWO juveniles were yesterday sentenced to a wholly suspended three months in prison for destroying election campaign posters.
The two girls’ names cannot be published for legal reasons as they are aged 16 and 17. They both reside at Mabusela Flats in Makokoba. The two pleaded guilty to contravening Section152 of the Electoral Act, Chapter 2:13 when they appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Mr Crispen Mberewere at the Electoral Court.
They were represented by Ms Lucy Dube from the Legal Aid Directorate, who begged the court for lenience saying they acted out of ignorance because of their age.
The girls, who are not going to school, also told the court that they did not know that it was an offence to tear off campaign posters.
The State’s case was that on Friday last week, while in Makokoba suburb, the two were spotted by Zanu-PF chief security officer for Makokoba District, Cde Didymus Mukahanana tearing some posters that had been pasted on a pre-cast wall of a church.
The court was told that the two were also seen by Ms Regina Nare destroying the posters.
A report was made to the police leading to their arrest.
Mr Mberewere is one of the magistrates selected by the Judicial Service Commission to preside over cases related to elections at a special court set up in terms of the Electoral Act (Chapter 2:13).
The court has heard five cases to date and all of them have been completed.
Mr Jeremiah Mutsindikwa appeared for the State.
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