THREE Zanu PF youths have been jailed for kidnapping and extorting three commuter bus rank marshals.
Hardlife Ndlovu, 29, Mthunzi Mabhena, 20, and Nqobani Mlilo, 31, all of Bulawayo, scooped up the victims from Mac’s Garage in the city and held them against their will for two hours at the party’s HQ at Davies Hall.
Prosecutors said the trio were demanding US$150 daily from the marshals, who operate from an undesignated rank, which they said would be used to fuel Zanu PF vehicles.
In return, the marshals – Wilson Mukamba, Mugove Nhete and Danny Mpofu – were promised protection from "police harassment".
After agreeing to hand over the money, the marshals contacted the police who set up a trap and arrested the extortionists when they turned up to pick up the booty.
On Monday, Mlilo, Mabhena and Ndlovu – who were convicted last week – were each jailed for three years by Bulawayo regional magistrate Mark Dzira.
The magistrate said prosecutor Goodluck Katenaire had led a compelling case against the trio over the events of March 7.
He sentenced each man to one year for extortion and four years for kidnapping. But two years of their sentences were conditionally suspended.