News / Local
MDC-T youth in trouble over WhatsApp chats
21 Nov 2014 at 08:03hrs | Views
An MDC-T youth member appeared in court on Thursday to answer to charges of insulting Dorcas Sibanda, MP for Bulawayo Central, via the WhatsApp platform, accusing her of being a "schemer".
Donald Mabutho (31) who was represented by his lawyer Kholwani Ngwenya of Mabhikwa and Company law firm, pleaded not guilty to posting the offensive messages allegedly directed towards Sibanda, on the MDC-T party group.
He was charged with contravening Section 88 (a) of the Telecommunications Services Act which prohibits "sending any message that is grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or threatening character".
Magistrate Sibongile Msipa presided over the case at the Tredgold Magistrates Courts and remanded Mabutho out of custody on $100 bail on condition that he continues to reside at his Luveve 5 home and reports every Friday at the Bulawayo Central Law and Order Section until the matter is finalised.
Through his lawyer, Mabutho claimed that the allegations against him were a result of factional fights within the party.
"The accused denies allegations laid against him, he will further say the allegations are a manifestation of factional fights within their party," submitted Ngwenya.
The state, represented by Danmore Kasenza, tendered a translated copy of the offensive chats that Mabutho allegedly directed towards Sibanda.
It is the state case's that on November 14 2014, at around 2121 hours, Mabutho allegedly posted abusive and threatening messages on the MDC-T group chat, through his cellphone, directing them towards Sibanda.
The messages which were written in vernacular and containing unprintable words, accused Sibanda of persuing a destructive agenda within the MDC-T.
"We will fix you Zipankie, you are a dog. MDC-T party does not belong to her mother she must take note of that. You hire thugs to come and cause commotion…those are typical Zanu symptoms, you punk! Today the chairman's car was parked inside, your plot has been discovered (sic)," read part of the chats.
Sibanda reported Mabutho to the police and he was subsequently arrested for the offensive chats.
The matter was remanded to December 16 2014 for trial.
Donald Mabutho (31) who was represented by his lawyer Kholwani Ngwenya of Mabhikwa and Company law firm, pleaded not guilty to posting the offensive messages allegedly directed towards Sibanda, on the MDC-T party group.
He was charged with contravening Section 88 (a) of the Telecommunications Services Act which prohibits "sending any message that is grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or threatening character".
Magistrate Sibongile Msipa presided over the case at the Tredgold Magistrates Courts and remanded Mabutho out of custody on $100 bail on condition that he continues to reside at his Luveve 5 home and reports every Friday at the Bulawayo Central Law and Order Section until the matter is finalised.
Through his lawyer, Mabutho claimed that the allegations against him were a result of factional fights within the party.
"The accused denies allegations laid against him, he will further say the allegations are a manifestation of factional fights within their party," submitted Ngwenya.
It is the state case's that on November 14 2014, at around 2121 hours, Mabutho allegedly posted abusive and threatening messages on the MDC-T group chat, through his cellphone, directing them towards Sibanda.
The messages which were written in vernacular and containing unprintable words, accused Sibanda of persuing a destructive agenda within the MDC-T.
"We will fix you Zipankie, you are a dog. MDC-T party does not belong to her mother she must take note of that. You hire thugs to come and cause commotion…those are typical Zanu symptoms, you punk! Today the chairman's car was parked inside, your plot has been discovered (sic)," read part of the chats.
Sibanda reported Mabutho to the police and he was subsequently arrested for the offensive chats.
The matter was remanded to December 16 2014 for trial.
Source - Zim Mail
