MDC-T youths spared jail for violence

Sukulwenkosi Dube Plumtree Correspondent
TWO MDC-T youths from Bulilima District have been sentenced to 105 hours of community service for severely assaulting a 63-year-old Zanu-PF official during a ruling party meeting. The official lost two teeth as a result of the beating.

The siblings Valentine Nkomo, 18 and Doubt Nkomo, 20, had pleaded not guilty to assaulting Key Dube, but they were convicted due to overwhelming evidence by Plumtree magistrate, Gideon Ruvetsa.

They were each sentenced to nine months imprisonment, but six months were suspended for five years on condition that they do not within that period commit a similar offence.

The remaining three months were suspended on condition that they each perform 105 hours of community service at Jutshume Primary School.

In passing sentence, magistrate Ruvetsa advised the two youths to desist from violence.

“It’s unexpected for young men of your age to be teaming up on such an elderly man because I doubt he was able to fight you back.

“Your actions are a sign that you’re disrespectful,” said the magistrate.

“In future don’t be caught on the wrong side of the law because you will be placed in jail at such a young age. I have really shown you mercy because you surely deserved a jail sentence as you hurt the old man badly.”

The two youths attacked the old man, who is also a member of the neighbourhood watch committee, after he tried to stop them from disturbing a Zanu-PF meeting.

The two alleged that they hit Dube, who is the war veteran chairperson for Jutshume ward in Bambadzi area, in self-defence after he attacked them first with a pair of handcuffs.

They maintained that they were not responsible for the old man’s injuries.

Dube, however, told the court that the two brothers arrived in a truck in the company of their two friends where Zanu-PF members were holding a meeting and made a lot of noise by revving their vehicle in order to disrupt the progress of the meeting.

He said they returned after the meeting had adjourned and assaulted him after he confronted them over their actions.

Prosecuting, Jane Phiri said Dube was attending a meeting at Jutshume Business Centre on March 26 together with other locals when he was attacked.

She said the siblings fled from the scene but were later arrested.