Maravi

(NEWZIMBABWE) MDC-T MP jailed for 7 years

MDC-T MP jailed for 7 years
by
30/06/2009 00:00:00

MUTARE West MP Shuah Mudiwa (MDC-T) has been jailed after being convicted of kidnapping a 12-year-old girl in 2007. Mudiwa was convicted along with his brother, Takudzwa, and Patricia Chikide Mwashuna.

The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) formation led by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai says the kidnap charges are a plan by "Zanu PF and other retrogressive forces in the inclusive government" to whittle down the party's majority in parliament.

Tsvangirai’s MDC overturned Zanu PF’s majority in parliament for the first time since 1980 in last year’s elections, but the party says seven of its MPs have been arrested, charged and convicted on various charges from political violence to kidnapping.

The party won 100 seats to Zanu PF’s 99. The other MDC formation led by Arthur Mutambara won 10 seats, and the 210th seat in the House of Assembly is occupied by Jonathan Moyo, an independent.

Mudiwa defeated former Transport Minister Chris Mushowe in the March 29 elections.

But last Saturday, he was a convicted criminal -- accused of kidnapping the young girl and locking her away in Mwashuna's House.

Mutare magistrate Hlekani Mwayera said his kidnap case “is viewed by the public with revulsion”.

“The removal of such offenders (from society) is called for. I, therefore, sentence you to seven years in prison,” the magistrate said at the end of trial as Mudiwa stood motionless.

Defence lawyer Douglas Mwonzora filed papers challenging both conviction and sentence on Monday.


The MDC-T’s Chipinge East MP Mathias Mlambo was sentenced to 10 months imprisonment for trying to defeat the course of justice by obstructing a police officer during the discharge of his duties and inciting violence at a funeral of an MDC supporter in Chipinge.

Chimanimani West MP Lynette Karenyi was convicted of electoral fraud after she allegedly forged the signatures of people who supported her nomination before the Nomination Court.

Section 42 of the Constitution says upon the sentencing of a legislator to death or a jail term of six months or more, “such member shall cease forthwith to exercise his functions … and his seat shall become vacant at the expiration of 30 days from the date of such sentence”.

Labels: COURTS, MDC, SHUAH MUDIWA

posted by MrK @ 7:42 PM