Student fined for assaulting journalist

Chipunza has been fined US$100.
Ignatius Zuze was also convicted of damaging a vehicle belonging to the newspaper.
Mbare magistrate Mr Brighton Pabwe also slapped Ignatius Zuze with one month imprisonment, which was wholly suspended on condition that he pays US$86 restitution to the newspaper by April 30 this year.
Prosecutor Mr Tungamirai Muganhiri proved beyond reasonable doubt that Zuze elbowed Chipunza, who at that time was six months pregnant, on her stomach before slapping her on the face.
Chipunza had gone to the hospital for an interview with the authorities on health related issues.
In the process Zuze damaged the vehicle parked within the hospital premises accusing photographer Innocent Makawa of taking his picture without his consent. In mitigation Zuze told the court that he was a student nurse awaiting his results and was also looking after his late brother’s children.
Mr Pabwe, however, acquitted Zuze on two counts of assaulting Makawa and damaging his camera.