KADOMA — Mhondoro-Ngezi lawmaker Mike Gava (Zanu PF), who was facing charges of violating the Firearms Act was last week ordered to pay a $400 fine for pointing a firearm at a hotel employee and discharging an unlicenced gun in a public place.
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Kadoma magistrate Takudzwa Gwazemba treated the two charges as one for purposes of sentencing.
Gava also had his firearm forfeited to the State. His lawyer, Steve Murambatsvina, had, in his mitigation, pleaded with the court to consider that the legislator committed the offence under the influence of alcohol.
In aggravation, prosecutor Allan Chifokoyo said the MP’s conduct was “not consistent” with the behaviour that should be displayed by a lawmaker.
Chifokoyo said the MP, whose moral blameworthiness was very high, could have harmed innocent patrons at the hotel.
The MP, who was initially facing four counts of violating the Firearms Act, was acquitted on another charge of pointing a gun at a casino attendant, Charmaine Nyamadzawo, who could not be located to testify in court.
Gava also had his other charge of kidnapping his ex-lover Thandeka Chitombo (21) dropped after the complainant withdrew the case.
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The court heard that Gava had on April 17 this year menacingly pointed a pistol at two employees at Kadoma Hotel and Conference Centre and fired one shot which shuttered a window pane before it hit a wall.