Tendayi Hall attackers jailed

FIVE New Year’s Eve rioters from Bindura, who attacked police officers with missiles and set Tendayi Hall on fire, destroying property worth about $100 000, were recently jailed for 48 months.

Josephine Mushore (32), Zvanyadza Nyamande (30), Bright Sipunu (24), Israel Bwanali (22) and Tinashe Chihuri (30) had pleaded not guilty when they appeared before Bindura magistrate Ms Shelly Zvenyika, who convicted them after a full trial.

The five were convicted of public violence as defined in Section 36 (1) (a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 9:23.

Twelve months of their sentences were suspended on condition of good behaviour, while another 12 months were suspended on condition that they restituted the complainants of property worth almost $100 000.

Each one is expected to pay about $20 000 as restitution.

They will serve an effective 24 months in jail.

Prosecuting, Mr Sam Chamunorwa, said on December 31, 2017 at around 11.30pm, the five and their accomplices, who are still at large, were part of a crowd that was gathered at Chipadze Business Centre celebrating New Year’s Eve.

Mr Chamunorwa said police officers in uniform, travelling in a Ford Ranger, were deployed to the venue to maintain law and order.

“During the celebrations, the five and their colleagues threw stones, empty bottles and logs at the police officers, who were standing near the police vehicle, which was parked at the entrance of the business centre along Chipadze Street,” he said.

“The police officers tried to restrain the accused persons and their accomplices, but in vain. The accused persons lit a tyre and rolled it towards the police vehicle in a bid to burn it, but failed.”

Mr Chamunorwa said the police officers were overpowered and sought refuge in Tendayi Hall where there were about 300 congregants from City of Grace Ministry Church, who were attending a church service.

The mob, the court heard, pursued the police officers in the hall and disrupted the church service as congregants ran for dear life.

In the ensuing melee, part of the mob set the hall on fire, which destroyed part of the structure.

The damaged property at the hall was reported to be worth $84 000.

The marauding mob also damaged City of Grace Ministry Church’s public address system worth about $12 000.

Mr Chamunorwa said police had to fire teargas canisters to disperse the mob, while some of the police officers were forced to change their uniforms in the hall for them to escape together with the church members.

The swift reaction of the Bindura Municipality Fire Brigade team and their Harare counterparts saved the hall from the inferno.