Man escapes jail for 'axing' Mugabe campaign poster

Man escapes jail for 'axing' Mugabe campaign poster

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By Lindie Whiz

A ZIMBABWEAN man has been handed a 30-day suspended sentence for "axing" President Robert Mugabe's campaign poster to show his hatred for the 84-year-old leader many accuse of bringing misery to Zimbabwe.

Forgiven Shoko, 30, from the Chief Nekatambe area of Hwange, vented at Mugabe's poster at Smith's Block Farm in Mangwe district, the state-run Umthunywa newspaper reported.

Prosecutor Shamiso Ncube told the Hwange Magistrate’s Court that Shoko left his home for Sikhathele Ndlovu’s homestead on March 15 this month.

"On arrival, the accused asked for an axe which he was given by Ncube,” Ncube said. “He went outside the yard, and axed President Mugabe's campaign poster stuck to a tree before walking away.”

Ncube reported the matter to the police leading to Shoko's arrest.

Magistrate Sheila Nazombe sentenced him to 30 days imprisonment, which was suspended on condition that Shoko does community service at Mangwe Police Station for 35 days.

Meanwhile Umthunywa reports that a man from the western border town of Plumtree left a court in stitches when he said he pulled down Mugabe's campaign posters because he wanted to use strings used to tie them to trees.

Roger Khuzwayo, 52, an employee of Plumtree Hotel, was also sentenced to do 35 days community service at Plumtree Police Station.

The prosecutor told the court that Khuzwayo untied Mugabe's posters and took the strings which he put in his pocket and walked away. The posters were in front of the hotel.

Unbeknown to Khuzwayo, someone was observing him and reported him to the police. He pleaded guilty after the prosecutor explained to him that it was a crime to remove political campaign posters.

Zanu PF chairman John Nkomo is on record complaining that his party's campaign posters, especially those of Mugabe, were being torn or pulled down, while those of his challengers in Saturday’s elections -- Morgan Tsvangirai and Simba Makoni -- were left untouched.
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