the MDC-T is in the process of appealing against the conviction of three of its members for killing a police officer in May 2011.
BY BLESSED MHLANGA
Tungamirai Madzokere (41), Yvonne Musarurwa (29) and Last Maengahama (40) were on Monday jailed for an effective 20 years each by High Court judge, Justice Chinembiri Bhunu, in a ruling the MDC-T has dismissed as political.
MDC-T spokesperson, Obert Gutu yesterday said a team of lawyers was already working on the appeal, which would seek to have both the conviction and sentence quashed.
“Our three comrades are going to appeal against both conviction and sentence in the Supreme Court, and we are already working on the appeal,” he said.
Gutu said his party viewed its members as innocent people, who had fallen victim to political power struggles.
“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. As a party, we maintain that our comrades are not guilty of the crime either of murder or of any competent verdict thereunder,” he said.
MDC-T youth assembly president, Happymore Chidziva said the conviction of the three were the “last kicks” of President Robert Mugabe’s regime, as it faced its end.
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“The conviction and sentencing of the innocent trio are the last kicks of a weakened regime.
The 20-year sentence given to our comrades by [Justice] Bhunu is meant to stifle dissenting voices and instil fear among the suffering Zimbabweans,” he said.
Chidziva, who has been leading MDC-T youths in a number of demonstrations against Mugabe’s government, said people should not be silenced, but instead press ahead and confront the government.
