Sikhala fined US$500

OPPOSITION politician Job Sikhala was yesterday fined US$500 for publishing falsehoods. Magistrate Feresi Chakanyuka said the law was clear that the court must deal sternly with those who publish falsehoods against the police.

“The law, section 31 of the Criminal Law [Codification Reform] Act is clear that we must deal sternly with those who publish falsehoods prejudicial to the State,” Magistrate Chakanyuka said.

“The penalty provision is a fine up to or not exceeding level 14 or 20 years in prison. The victim is the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP). The processes of sentencing an offender must be rational and informed. Punishment should fit the criminal and the crime.”

Chakanyuka added: “The court will focus more on reforming the offender. The mitigatory factors outweigh the aggravatory factors.

“There is no factor justifying a custodial sentence. A fine in the level of eight is befitting.”

Sikhala was accused of publishing falsehoods when he posted on his social media account that a ZRP officer had killed a baby with a baton.

He becomes the second opposition member to be convicted of the same offence after his former colleague in the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) Fadzayi Mahere was fined US$600.

Sikhala was released recently after spending nearly two years behind bars on a charge of inciting public violence.

The 52-year-old politician was incarcerated at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison awaiting trial on a charge of inciting violence following the death of Moreblessing Ali, a party supporter.

He has since left the CCC to lead his own movement.

Late last night, his lawyers said they would appeal both the conviction and sentence.