adminAuxilia Katongomara Saturday Leisure Reporter
JAZZ songbird, Dudu Manhenga missed out on the recent Presidential pardon which saw more than 2 000 prisoners being freed as she was out on bail. Had the songstress been serving her sentence, she could have been among prisoners who benefited from the Presidential pardon which saw most female prisoners set free.Manhenga was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment last year on her own plea of guilty for knocking down and killing motorcyclist Graham Martin Millward four years ago through negligent driving.
She, however, served only two weeks before the High Court granted her bail pending appeal against her jail term. Zimbabwe Prison Services, Public Relations Officer, Elizabeth Banda confirmed that Manhenga indeed missed out on the Presidential pardon.
“Dudu doesn’t qualify in the Presidential pardon because she was not in custody when the pardon was invoked. It benefited all female inmates that had been convicted and already serving their sentences,” said Banda.
She said because Manhenga was out on bail, she could not benefit from the presidential pardon. The Bulawayo born- star could not be contacted for comment yesterday as she is touring Ghana and is only expected back in the country on March 5.
Last week, President Mugabe granted amnesty and clemency that benefited most female prisoners and all juveniles. According to the Government Gazette, the President pardoned prisoners under Clemency Order Number 1 of 2014.
“A remission of the remainder of the period of imprisonment is hereby granted to those female prisoners, regardless of the offence committed, save for those sentenced to life imprisonment and to death,” read part of the Gazette.
After the pardon only three female inmates remained in prison at Chikurubi Female Prison.
Online Reporter