Voter nabbed while attempting to use mother's ID

THERE was drama at Dirikwe Primary School in Chimanimani  last Saturday when a 22-year-old woman was arrested for impersonating after she tried to use  her mother'  national identity card to vote in the just-ended referendum.

Tamary Gudyanga was on Monday hauled before Chipinge magistrate, Mr Vuso Gapara, for contravening Section 137, Chapter 1:23 of the Electoral Act and was convicted on her own plea of guilty.

Prosecuting, Mr Thembalami Dhliwayo, said on March 16, Gudyanga of Dirikwe Village, Chief Muusha went to Dirikwe Primary School which was used as a ZEC polling station to vote in the referendum plebiscite.

"When she arrived at the polling station, she produced Agness Mwanyungudza's ID, registration number 13-245881-E-13 which stated that the holder was born on September 17, 1962.

"A poling officer, Clifford Bekapi who attended to her became suspicious as her youthful face did not tally with the advanced age on the ID," said Mr Dhliwayo.

Bekapi tipped the police resulting in the arrest of Gudyanga who confessed that it was her mother's ID.

Although she pleaded guilty to the charges, she said she committed the offence as a way of helping her mother.

"We heard from fellow villagers that those who did not vote would be beaten up by some people from Harare, accordingly she sent me to vote on her behalf as she was having problems with her legs," she told the court.

Mr  Gapara sentenced her to six months imprisonment wholly suspended on condition that she performs 210 hours of community service at Nenhohwe Primary School.