Three members of the opposition MDC have been sentenced to spend a combined 10-year jail term for killing a ZANU PF member who was celebrating presidential elections victory in 2008.
Former president, the late Robert Mugabe had won the run-off election which was instituted after all candidates failed to attain 50+1% of the votes cast. Former Prime Minister, the late Morgan Tsvangirayi (MDC) had won the first round of the election.
The trio, Cleopas Ngwenya (70), Owen Ngwenya (37) and Gilbert Nkomo (65), all of Jamu village under Chief Chireya in Gokwe North, appeared before Bulawayo High Court Judge, Justice Maxwell Takuva, sitting in Gweru and pleaded guilty to culpable homicide.
In passing the sentence, Justice Takuva said that the court had considered a number of issues including the ages of the accused. He said:
In passing the sentence, the court considered that the accused persons are first offenders and they pleaded guilty. The accused persons also have families to look after. The first accused person is 70-years-old while the second accused person is now 65. Both are in the twilight of their lives.
We also considered that there was a delay in the prosecution of the matter. We also want people in the rural areas to learn to be able to live with their neighbours who also support other political parties.
Ngwenya and Nkomo were sentenced to four years each that were wholly suspended on condition of good behaviour while Owen was sentenced to two years in jail of which one year was also suspended on condition of good behaviour.
More: The Chronicle