BY LORRAINE MUROMO

THE Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) has successfully challenged the conviction and 16-year sentence imposed on Masvingo teacher Sheila Chisirimunhu.

She was arrested, convicted and sentenced last year for demanding better working conditions for civil servants.

In a statement, the ZLHR said the High Court upheld the 53-year-old Chisirimunhu’s appeal against both conviction and sentence. She was represented by lawyer Martin Mureri of ZLHR.

Masvingo magistrate Mbonisi Ndlovu had found her guilty of participating in a gathering with intent to promote public violence, breach of peace or bigotry as defined in section 37 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.

Chisirimunhu, the Masvingo provincial gender secretary for Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (Artuz), who had been out of custody on $2 000 bail, was arrested together with Artuz  president Obert Masaraure.

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While Chisirimunhu was jailed, Masaraure had been on trial for the same charges.

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