MDC MP jailed for 10 months with hard labour

The MDC MP and spokesperson for Manicaland province, Pishai Muchauraya,
said trouble started for the MP when he attended a funeral for an MDC
activist in Chipinge on April 10. It was alleged a Zanu (PF) activist
came to provoke the mourners and was moved away by force. MP Mlambo
said he was at the burial site of the deceased while the commotion was
taking place elsewhere at the funeral. The gathering was later
disrupted by the police who stormed the funeral in search of an
unidentified suspect', which resulted in Mlambo being arrested for
obstructing justice. Police said he must have known what was happening
and was just being difficult.

Muchauraya believes this was nothing more than a political judgment and
has no legal merit. He remarked on how quickly the courts
fast-tracked the matter and gave judgment instantly, when we have
some cases that took place in June last year which have never been
investigated and have never been brought before the courts of law – but
it's because they will be Zanu (PF).

An MP loses their parliamentary seat if given a custodial sentence of
more than six months. However Mlambo remains an MP for now, until his
appeal has been heard. Muchauraya said lawyers were on Monday applying
for bail, pending appeal. He said if bail is refused they will take the
matter up to the higher courts and appeal against both sentence and
conviction.

Muchauraya added: We also have another MP, Mike Makuyana for Chipinge
South, who is awaiting sentence at the same court in Chipinge and you
can't classify that as justice or democracy. We have a dictator who is
doing whatever he likes and he is hiding behind this term called
inclusive government. SW Radio Africa