Zanu PF legilastor for Bikita West, Munyaradzi Kereke, will spend the next 10 years in jail after he was today found guilty by a Harare magistrate of raping a minor child. At the same time, Tajamuka-Sesijikile spokesperson Promise Mkwananzi, who is facing charges of destroying goods in Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko’s supermarket, has been granted bail.
Harare magistrate Noel Mupeyiwa found Kereke guilty of rape in one count in which he used a gun to threaten a minor child when raping her and absolved him on a second charge of allegedly indecently assaulting another minor.
The magistrate said although Kereke was allegedly being shielded by suspended prosecutor general Johannes Tomana to evade justice as submitted by the prosecution led by Charles Warara, the court was not satisfied that Kereke acted unlawfully in that respect as he was not responsible for the prosecution of accused persons.
Magistrate Mupeyiwa had sentenced Kereke to 14 years in prison but suspended 4 years on condition of good behavior. He added that he was lenient on the legislator because he has three wives and 17 children who look up to him for their survival. Mupeyiwa added that the court had mercy on him because he previously served government in the capacity of advisor to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor.
Prosecutor Warara said he was happy with the court’s verdict.
The conviction of Kereke means that there would be a by-election in Bikita West to fill the vacancy that has been created by his conviction and subsequent jailing.
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Report on MP Kereke Filed By Thomas Chiripasi
In another court case, Promise Mkwananzi, the spokesperson of the youth outfit calling itself Tajamuka Sesijikile, was granted bail today by Harare magistrate Tendai Mahwe.
The state accuses Mkwananzi of allegedly destroying groceries in Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko’s Choppies Supermarket in downtown Harare after Mkwananzi is said to have led a group of youth to the shop protesting against Mphoko’s continued stay at a local hotel on taxpayers’ expense.
Mkwananzi’s attorney, Trust Maanda of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, confirmed magistrate Mahwe’s ruling.
Meanhwile, the leader of the newly formed Viva Zimbabwe political party, Acie Lumumba, who recently dropped an f-word on President Robert Mugabe, was granted $300 bail on forgery charges.
The state accuses the former Zanu PF activist of forging his signature on the registration book of a vehicle that he sold.