MDC-A youth chairman jailed

FIVE rioters, among them MDC-Alliance Mashonaland Central provincial youth chairman Tonderai Samu, were this week jailed for six years for obstructing or endangering free movement of persons or traffic during disturbances that took place in Mvurwi recently.

Samu (34) of house number 2654 in Mvurwi, who is also an MDC councillor, was jailed with five others namely Elisha Benjamin (50) of 54 Suoguru, Wonder Zuze (35) of 72 Helen Ave, Patrice Dandajena (34) of 138 Suoguru and Beverly Mureya (41).

They were jointly charged with seven others, but Bindura provincial magistrate Mrs Vongai Guwuriro found overwhelming evidence against them for working in common purpose with fellow rioters.

They will spend four years each in prison after Mrs Guwuriro suspended two years of each sentence on condition that they did not commit a similar offence in the next five years.

In passing sentence, the magistrate said the accused’s actions went further to hinder many national objectives which the country was trying to achieve and their conduct affected the country in a very serious way, hence the need for a custodial sentence to allow them to reform.

Prosecutor, Mr Clement Kuwanda, told the court that on January 14, the five circulated a message on the Whatsapp platform inciting people to demonstrate against President Mnangagwa and the Government.

He said on January 15, the accused persons gathered at Mvurwi Community Hall and together with 50 other people began singing revolutionary songs.

They marched along Independence Way on their way to Mvurwi Centre.

Mr Kuwanda said the accused persons blocked the road intersections using council bins, drainage pipes and stones, while burning worn out vehicle tyres.