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Walter Nyamukondiwa Chinhoyi Bureau
Three villagers from Makonde in Mashonaland West have been sentenced to eight months in prison each for assaulting lands officers pegging unoccupied plots at a farm in Chinhoyi.
Robert Shiri (44), Nyasha Mutandwa (21) and Moila Chamonyonga (41) were arrested together with Lungisani Ncakani (47) and Lovemore Dova (30) recently at Portlett Estates for assaulting the lands officers.
The five appeared before Chinhoyi magistrate Mr Ngoni Nduna facing assault charges in contravention of Section 89 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
Mr Nduna acquitted Ncakani and Dova but convicted Shiri, Mutandwa and Chamonyonga on their own plea of guilt.
He sentenced the three to 15 months in prison each before setting aside seven months for five years on condition that they do not commit a similar offence in the same period.
Prosecutor Mr Tinashe Dzvova said that on August 21 this year, lands officers Jeffrey Msamila and Tapera Tawacha were assigned to peg six A1 plots at Portlett Estates in Makonde district.
As they were carrying out their job, they were confronted by the five who started assaulting them with logs and fists.
Both lands officers had their spectacles damaged in the process.
Efforts to identify themselves were ignored by the five who went on to detain them for about two and half hours.
They were only rescued after the arrival of police officers who arrested the five.
Online Reporter