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Zimbabwe Court Jails Opposition Activist for Blowing Whistle During Protest

Columbus Mavhunga

   Zimbabwe's main opposition party says the government is again cracking
   down on critics with a prison sentence given
   to28-year-oldMakomboreroHaruzivishe. A court found him guilty of
   inciting violence, but rights groups say the real aim is to intimidate
   protesters demanding more financial support for the poor.

   That's MakomboreroHaruzivisheshoutingatwaiting reporters as he left for
   Chikurubi MaximumPrison--his new home for the next 14 months after he
   was sentenced to prison on Tuesday.

   Authorities say the 28-year-old blew a whistle to alert opposition
   protesters to pounce on police during a protest in February last year.

   KossamNcubeofZimbabweLawyers for Human Rights,who
   representedHaruzivisheduringhistrial,says only circumstantial evidence
   was used to convict him of inciting violence and resisting arrest.
   Twenty-eight-year-old Makomborero Haruzivishe (standing) listening to
   Magistrate Judith Taruvinga (right) reading her ruling on the activist
   at Harare Magistrates Court on April 06, 2021. (VOA/Columbus Mavhunga)

   "We do not agree with the decision of the court because we believe the
   facts upon which the court relied to arrive at the decision to convict
   could not support that decision.Therefore,it was a serious misdirection
   on the part of the court to convict him of those offenses.And we
   aredefinitely goingto take it up on appeal,because the decision of the
   court cannot be sustained legally,"Ncube said.

   His arrest after months on the run,followsan accusation that he incited
   violence in a protest demanding the government provide more support to
   poor Zimbabweans.

   Tendai Biti, vice president of the opposition Movement for Democratic
   Change Alliance,reactedtoHaruzivishe'sconviction in an interview with
   VOA.

   "This isa sadfor Zimbabwe. It reflects the selective application of the
   law in Zimbabwe. It confirms the complete emasculation of state
   institutions for Zimbabwe. The conviction and heavy sentence(are)meant
   tosendout a chilling effect to the democratic movement in
   Zimbabwe,"Biti said.
   Tendai Biti, the vice president of the opposition Movement for
   Democratic Change Alliance on April 06, 2021 in Harare. (VOA/Columbus
   Mavhunga)

   Zimbabwe's government says the conviction ofHaruzivishe--who has taken
   part in many anti-government protests--was legitimate and legal.

   NdavaningiNick Mangwana, Zimbabwe's Information Ministry
   Secretary,spoketo VOA aftertheruling.

   "He was convicted of inciting public violence,and he did make those
   statements which were inciting violence.So,it'sstraightforward; you
   incite violence.Is it a criminal offense in our statutes? It is. Was
   there evidence against him? The courtdeterminedthat there was evidence
   against him,and thatdeterminesa conviction. Was the conviction within
   the parameters of a fair sentence for such a crime?I believe itwas
   ifthe magistrate saidit be so.Let'stalk a little bit about this
   incitement of violence.Do you know that a wholepresident of the United
   States (Donald Trump) was impeached for that reason? A whole
   president,"Mangwana said.

   Haruziveshefaces other charges related to organizing protests during
   the country's COVID-19 lockdown and an accusation of kidnapping.He only
   shook his head after Magistrate Judith Taruvinga read her
   ruling.Haruzivesheposted on Twitter,"I am ready for prison. I refuse to
   be broken by acabalof thieves and murderers. They stole the future from
   millions of Zimbabweans--acriminal cult that betrayed their comrades
   who died in the struggle for Independence. This,for me is a sabbatical.
   I will be back!"