THE country’s justice delivery system was yesterday applauded for the swift and firm sentencing of Guruve and Mvurwi suspected killer and convicted rapist Anymore Zvitsva to a record 89 years in prison.
Harare magistrate Francis Mapfumo slapped suspected murderer Zvitsva with an 89-year effective imprison term in front of the First lady Auxillia Mnangagwa.
Zvitsva yesterday joined a list of multiple individuals who were sentenced to lengthy jail terms in Zimbabwe, as the courts hand down deterrent sentences by running multiple counts consecutively.
Among them is Aaron Sanyamahwe, a 36-year-old man from Chitungwiza who was handed an 80-year prison sentence by the regional magistrates' court after being convicted of four counts of rape.
In 2014, Thomas Chirembwe was sentenced to an unprecedented 290 years in prison for a series of rape.
Other instances of very long sentences include that of 72 years meted out on serial rapist Charles Magombedze and the cumulative 130-year sentence handed down to three armed robbers in Beitbridge.
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Zvitsva was facing four counts of rape, five counts of attempted murder and one robbery charge which accumulated 89 years imprisonment.
He pleaded guilty to all the 10 charges when he appeared before Mapfumo yesterday.
Zvitsva is, however, left with more than 15 counts of murder committed around Guruve and Mvurwi which will be tried at the High Court.
In his ruling yesterday, Mapfumo said Zvitsva committed heinous crimes in aggravating circumstances hence he should be incarcerated for a lengthy period.
Meanwhile, in a statement yesterday, Women and Law in Southern Africa executive director Isheanesu Chirisa applauded the court outcome.
“We welcome the conviction and sentencing in the Zvitsva, particularly the relative swiftness with which justice has been delivered in such a heinous case involving violence against women and girls,” she said.
Crimes of this nature strike at the very core of human dignity, safety and the constitutional rights of women and girls to live free from violence and fear.
“The case is a painful reminder of the urgent need to strengthen prevention mechanisms, community protection systems, survivor support services and accountability frameworks around gender-based violence.”
She said the outcome demonstrated the importance of an effective justice delivery system that responded decisively and without undue delay in cases involving serious violent offences.
“Swift and firm accountability not only affirms public confidence in the justice system, but also sends a strong message that violence against women and girls will not be tolerated,” Chirisa said.