By Tinashe Sibanda
Former Makoni West MP Webber Chinyadza (MDC-T) and his son Tapiwa were last Friday fined a combined $950 by a Harare magistrate after being convicted of possessing an unlicensed firearm for almost seven years.
The former legislator pleaded guilty to possessing a gun whose licence expired in 2008 when he appeared before provincial magistrate Tendai Mahwe. He also pleaded guilty to sharing the pistol with his son who was an unlicensed firearm holder.
In his ruling, Mahwe said the gun would be forfeited to the State and ordered Chinyadza to pay a $150 fine or, in default of payment, to serve a two-month jail term for the first count.
He was ordered to pay another $300 fine for sharing the firearm with his unlicensed son.
Tapiwa was fined $300 for possession of an unlicensed firearm and an additional $200 fine for failing to secure the pistol.
In passing sentence, Mahwe commended the two for not wasting the court’s time and also for not using the gun in the commission of any offence.
In his mitigation, Chinyadza said he was diabetic thus sending him to prison would not be suitable for him. He also submitted he was currently taking care of several orphans at his farm in Karoi.
