The Movement for Democratic Change had described the jailing of its three cadres-Tungamirai Madzokere, Yvonne Musarurwa and Last Maengahama for 20 years each for murdering a police officer in 2011 as a travesty of justice.
The three were sentenced by Justice Chinembiri Bhunu for murdering Inspector Petros Mutedzi in Glen View. Justice Bhunu said they should have been hanged but were spared because Musarurwa was a woman and could therefore not be hanged under the country’s constitution.
Bhunu said: “Those who foment trouble today disturbing the peace in misguided political violence will have to account and atone for their transgressions in a hard way regardless of their political orientation. The courts as the custodians and implementers of law will certainly not sit back and gaze while the country burns and degenerates into anarchy and despondency under their watch.”
The MDC-T, however, said Bhunu’s decision was political and is appealing against the judgment and sentence.
“Right from the outset, this case has been heavily politicised essentially because the learned judge took more than three years to convict our comrades after a lengthy trial,” party spokesman Obert Gutu, a lawyer, said.
“As a party, we maintain that our comrades are not guilty of the crime of murder nor of any competent verdict thereunder. As such, our legal team has already been instructed to note an appeal against both conviction and sentence in the Supreme Court of Zimbabwe. The sentence of twenty years imprisonment with labour induces a sense of shock and outrage.”
Gutu said it was obvious that Musarurwa, Madzokere and Maengahama were being unfairly and cruelly victimised for their resolute and consistent defiance against ZANU- PF brutality, political oppression and tyranny.
“Where there is a will there is a way. The democratic and peaceful struggle against the ZANU- PF dictatorship shall continue unabated,” he said.
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