News / National
MDC-T MP appeals against sentence
15 May 2013 at 03:30hrs | Views
CHIMANIMANI West legislator Lynette Karenyi (MDC-T) is appealing against Monday's sentence by a Mutare magistrate who slapped her with a four-month jail term for holding an unsanctioned political meeting last year.
Her lawyer, Mr Blessing Nyamaropa of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, revealed yesterday that he was lodging an appeal against both conviction and sentence at the High Court in Harare.
"We feel that she was wrongly convicted because she was not the convenor of the meeting in question. That is our major argument," he said.
Karenyi, who is organising secretary of the MDC-T women's league, was, however, given an option to pay a US$200 fine by Mrs Sekesai Chiundura for contravening Section 25 (5) of the Public Order and Security Act, Chapter 11.17. In addition, she was slapped with another three months imprisonment, wholly suspended for five years on condition that she does not commit a similar offence.
In sentencing her, Mrs Chiundura said as a legislator Karenyi should be exemplary and desist from indulging in actions contrary to the dictates of the law. Prosecutor Mr Walter Saunyama said charges against Karenyi emanated from a November 24 meeting she held at Zimunda Village under Chief Muusha in Chimanimani.
"The meeting was not sanctioned and close to 50 people attended it.
"Police from Nyanyadzi later stopped the meeting following a tip-off and they arrested Karenyi and her co-accused, Freddy Dziwande, the party's district chairman," he said.
Dziwande was, however, acquitted at the close of the State case.
Her lawyer, Mr Blessing Nyamaropa of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, revealed yesterday that he was lodging an appeal against both conviction and sentence at the High Court in Harare.
"We feel that she was wrongly convicted because she was not the convenor of the meeting in question. That is our major argument," he said.
Karenyi, who is organising secretary of the MDC-T women's league, was, however, given an option to pay a US$200 fine by Mrs Sekesai Chiundura for contravening Section 25 (5) of the Public Order and Security Act, Chapter 11.17. In addition, she was slapped with another three months imprisonment, wholly suspended for five years on condition that she does not commit a similar offence.
"The meeting was not sanctioned and close to 50 people attended it.
"Police from Nyanyadzi later stopped the meeting following a tip-off and they arrested Karenyi and her co-accused, Freddy Dziwande, the party's district chairman," he said.
Dziwande was, however, acquitted at the close of the State case.
Source - herald
