CCC members jailed over deadly political violence

The High Court has sentenced three members of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) to 22 years and nine months in prison each for the murder of a man during a violent political clash with ZANU-PF supporters in Harare.

Justice Esther Muremba described the killing of Onisimo Mavhungire as a brutal mob attack carried out under aggravating circumstances.

"The facts clearly establish aggravating circumstances: the murder was committed by a group of at least ten people acting in common purpose, in defiance of a lawful court order," she ruled.

The court heard that the violence erupted on October 7, 2022, at Nenyere Flats in Mbare during a confrontation between rival political supporters over a disputed piece of land. The three convicted men were part of a CCC-aligned group that attacked Mavhungire, who later died from severe head injuries.

Justice Muremba described the assault as vicious and sustained, noting that the attackers used open hands, booted feet, stones, and a wooden log, leaving the victim fatally injured.

The court rejected the defence's plea for leniency, dismissing arguments that the offenders' youth, family responsibilities, and time already spent in custody justified a lighter sentence.

"The submission that 'the more people punished, the less each should suffer' is legally untenable," the judge said. "Criminal liability is individual, and each participant in a common purpose bears responsibility for the fatal outcome."

She emphasised that the law does not dilute responsibility simply because multiple offenders were involved, adding that each participant bears full criminal liability.

The court also dismissed a proposed eight-year sentence by the defence, saying it failed to reflect the seriousness of the offence and the aggravating factors involved.

The National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe's position prevailed, with the court agreeing that the political nature of the violence and the coordinated mob attack warranted a severe custodial sentence.

In victim impact testimony, Mavhungire's widow, Grace Muchakata, described the devastating consequences of the killing, including financial hardship and struggles to provide for her child.

In delivering the sentence, Justice Muremba stressed the need for deterrence and consistency, noting that the offenders had initially been sentenced to 25 years before a successful appeal led to a fresh ruling.

"Sentencing for murder must reflect both the seriousness of the crime and the need to uphold the integrity of the justice system," she said, adding that a stiff penalty was necessary to deter political violence.