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Youth leader convicted of Posa breach

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KWEKWE — The Public Order and Security Act (Posa) has claimed a scalp in Kwekwe where the leader of a youth pressure group, Nkosilathi Moyo, has been sentenced to a six-month jail term for addressing an unsanctioned public meeting.

KWEKWE — The Public Order and Security Act (Posa) has claimed a scalp in Kwekwe where the leader of a youth pressure group, Nkosilathi Moyo, has been sentenced to a six-month jail term for addressing an unsanctioned public meeting. Report by Blessed Mhlanga Staff Reporter

Moyo, the director of Zimbabwe Youth in Politics, was yesterday convicted of violating Section 25 of the Act.

He was, however, given the option of a $500 fine.

Moyo was arrested on November 16 last year while addressing a Crisis Coalition in Zimbabwe meeting without authority from the police as required under Posa.

Police stormed the meeting and confiscated a camera and posters belonging to the organisation and later charged him with contravening the law.

Moyo’s lawyer, Reginald Chidawanyika, argued the gathering was private, but provincial magistrate Stambiso Ncube found him guilty of the offence and sentenced him to 12 months in prison before suspending six months on condition of good behaviour and another six months on condition he pays $500 fine.

“Accused person co-operated with the police,” the magistrate said.

“Therefore, no violence occurred upon the meeting being stopped. The Act is meant to avoid violence and since accused’s conduct did not lead to any violence, the court takes that as mitigatory. A suspended sentence and fine will, therefore, meet justice.”

Moyo becomes the first person to be convicted and sentenced under Posa since the Act was promulgated in 2002 to suppress dissenting voices.