News / National
Man Jailed for posting presidential ballot paper on Facebook
07 Aug 2013 at 16:36hrs | Views
A Zimbabwean court has sentenced a man to 10 months in prison for taking a picture of the presidential ballot paper and posting it on Facebook.
Tonderai Rakato (31) from Gokwe was arrested after one of his friends on the social networking site tipped-off the police.
Gokwe resident magistrate, Mr Shepherd Mjanja heard that on 31 July, Rakato proceeded to Tsheziya polling station. On arrival, the court heard, he was given three ballot papers for the presidential, parliamentary and local authority ballot papers.
He then proceeded to the voting booth and put the X mark on his choices. It is reported that after doing so, Rakato took out his Nokia E71 mobile phone and photographed the presidential ballot paper.He according to court records had cast his vote for MDC-T president Morgan Tsvangirai.
After completing the voting procedure, Rakato left the station and went on to post the picture of the ballot paper on his Facebook wall. One of his friends reportedly made a report to the police leading to his arrest.
Rakato was then dragged before the courts and was found guilty on his own plea.
He was sentenced to 10 months in prison and three months were suspended on condition of good behaviour entailing that he will serve an effective seven months.
Tonderai Rakato (31) from Gokwe was arrested after one of his friends on the social networking site tipped-off the police.
Gokwe resident magistrate, Mr Shepherd Mjanja heard that on 31 July, Rakato proceeded to Tsheziya polling station. On arrival, the court heard, he was given three ballot papers for the presidential, parliamentary and local authority ballot papers.
He then proceeded to the voting booth and put the X mark on his choices. It is reported that after doing so, Rakato took out his Nokia E71 mobile phone and photographed the presidential ballot paper.He according to court records had cast his vote for MDC-T president Morgan Tsvangirai.
After completing the voting procedure, Rakato left the station and went on to post the picture of the ballot paper on his Facebook wall. One of his friends reportedly made a report to the police leading to his arrest.
Rakato was then dragged before the courts and was found guilty on his own plea.
He was sentenced to 10 months in prison and three months were suspended on condition of good behaviour entailing that he will serve an effective seven months.
Source - Radio Dialogue
