Former Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) legislator Amos Chibaya and four others were fined $500 each for participating in an unlawful gathering. The group, including Cosmas Machingauta, Monica Mukwada, Aletta Viremai, and Lancelot Tungwarara, was sentenced by Harare magistrate Sharon Rakafa.
They were charged with participating in a gathering with intent to promote public violence, breaches of the peace, or bigotry, under Section 37 of the Criminal Code. Initially, they were sentenced to six months imprisonment, but it was suspended on the condition that they won’t commit the same offense within the next five years.
The court took into account that they were first-time offenders and philanthropists, which warranted leniency. The fine and suspended sentence were handed down as a result.
The arrest was part of a larger incident involving 25 individuals, including Chibaya and Machingauta, who are members of parliament for Mkoba and Budiriro, respectively.
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