Three men, including a soldier, who allegedly set ablaze three trucks at Ashys service station in Bulawayo’s Nkulumane 12 suburb during the Shutdown protests in January were recently sentenced to 15 months in prison.
Western Commonage magistrate Tancy Dube, suspended 6 months on condition of good behaviour for the next five years.
Magistrate Dube ordered that the three effectively serve the remaining 9 months in jail.
Tafadzwa Mhou (26) a soldier, Dexter Mungwadi (23) and Dalumizi Ndlovu (26) were convicted of public violence.
They were part of the mob that protested on January 15 during the stay away skirmishes which were marred by vandalism of property and looting.
Washington Chididi(26) who had been arrested together with the trio was found not guilty and acquitted.
Another co-accused Ntandoyenkosi Moyo (27), a soldier, was allegedly shot in the abdomen by the owner of the garage Ashton Mpofu during the protests and had to seek medical attention at a local private health facility.
Moyo’s lawyer, Dixon Abraham of Tanaka Law Chambers told CITE his client had been placed off remand after sustaining permanent injuries which have deprived him of the ability to walk.
Prosecuting, Thembeni Mpofu said the accused persons were part of the people who were protesting at Ashys garage during the violent protests.
“In an effort to disperse the crowd, Ashton Mpofu armed himself with his 303 rifle and started shooting in the air. The accused were undeterred and kept advancing towards the garage shop.
“The accused went to some parked vehicles where they set ablaze three trucks. Moyo was shot in the abdomen and was bungled into a Nissan Note before they drove him to 1 Brigade to seek medical attention,” the court heard.
