Man forgets to pay fine, jailed

A Hwange man will rue the day he neglected to settle a $1 200 fine resulting in a six-month jail term after being convicted of criminal insult two years ago.

Obey Muyambo (28) of F22, Lwendulu Village in Hwange was convicted in 2019 for insulting Bekezela Mpofu.

He was fined $1 200 failure which would result in six months imprisonment and was given up to January 2020 to settle the fine. However, Muyambo failed resulting in a warrant of arrest being issued against him last year and was only arrested a few days  ago.

He told Hwange provincial magistrate Mrs Barbra Phiri that he had forgotten about the fine.

"Your worship, forgive me. I forgot about the fine because there were a lot of things going on and I didn't have the money. May the court be understanding," pleaded Muyambo.

However, Mrs Phiri would have none of it and ordered the alternative sentence to be brought into effect.

"You simply saw it as not being important, the delay is without good reasoning. The amount ordered had been eroded by inflation making it easier for you to actually pay. Therefore, the warrant of arrest is cancelled but accused is to serve the alternative," she said.

According to the State led by Miss Belinda Bure on 7 December 2019 and at Lwendulu Bus Terminus Muyambo and Mpofu had a misunderstanding over an issue of a refrigerator.

He went on to criminally insult Mpofu by shouting at her using Nyanja calling her a prostitute, witch and mad person.

She reported the matter to the police leading to his arrest and subsequent conviction.

He was fined $1 200 or six month imprisonment. The fine was to be paid via the clerk of court by 18 January 2020.

In addition Muyambo was sentenced to nine months imprisonment that were wholly suspended for five years on condition he does not commit a similar offence within that period.