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Fungai Lupande Court Reporter
Seventeen students who held a wild pool party in Westgate in May were yesterday found guilty of criminal nuisance. They now face community service after the magistrate Mr Takunda Mtetwa ruled that a fine was not deterrent enough. He said if fined, their parents would pay. The students are Simone Museta (18), Staisy Makombe (21), Memory Chasara (19), Marian Madamombe (18), Shamiso Kadzinga (18), Thoriso Chisaira (18), Keshel Magaso (18), Tatenda Maponga (19), Kundishora Munashe (19), Isaac Katsande (18), Brendon Mahembe (19), Sheon Matuku (19), Elves Musika(18), Juliet Phiri (20), Masimba Mudzingwa (20), Yevgeny Mehluli Ndlovu (18) and Mackenzie Mabeka (23).
Mr Mtetwa said the 17 interfered with the neighbours’ peace, had no shame and were a disappointment to their parents.
“A fine would not meet the justice of the offence because it is tantamount to punishing their parents who will pay for them,” said Mr Mtetwa.
“They will be sentenced to community service for them to reform and appreciate the gravity of their waywardness.”
The teenagers gave their lawyer Mr Samuel Banda a torrid time as they rejected the sentence when they were briefed that community services was unpaid work.
Mr Banda warned his clients resisting community sentence meant going to jail.
Mr Banda said teenagers were young and inclined towards mischief just like any other children.
The prosecutor Ms Patience Chimusaru told the court that on May 29, around midday police received a tip-off that the students were partying at house number 2021 Area D, Westgate in Harare.
The police found the teenagers gathered at a swimming pool with some wearing swimming costumes, shorts and skin tights.
They were playing and dancing to loud music.
The police established that the students were holding a belated birthday party for Museta.
Online Reporter