By Mary Taruvinga

HARARE: Opposition politician Jacob Ngarivhume has been jailed four years in a sentence his defence team immediately condemned as “outrageous”. and vowed to appeal.

Ngarivhume was convicted and caged on charges of inciting public violence after calling for nationwide protests on July 31, 2020.

He will however, serve 3 years effective after part of his sentence was suspended conditionally.

“Public violence is generally a serious offence,” said the magistrate delivering the sentence.

“The court agrees that he is a first offender, this is first brush with the law.

“A fine or suspended sentence would not deter further offenders. A sentence must be meaningful.

“Therefore; the sentence that would be appropriate would be as follows: 48 months of which 12 months are suspended.”

Reacting, after the sentence was handed down, the defence team led by Prof Lovemore Madhuku described the sentence as “outrageous”.

Prof Madhuku said he had been instructed to appeal both the sentence and conviction; adding he was confident the High Court would not uphold the sentence.

WATCH Madhuku speak below: