Clayton
Shereni
Shereni
Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS)
Commissioner-General Paradzai Zimondi is yet to respond to the appeal of Chiredzi-based
prison officer, John Mahlabera who was convicted and dismissed from the service
on November 05, 2018, for allegedly undermining President Emmerson Mnangagwa on
Twitter.
Commissioner-General Paradzai Zimondi is yet to respond to the appeal of Chiredzi-based
prison officer, John Mahlabera who was convicted and dismissed from the service
on November 05, 2018, for allegedly undermining President Emmerson Mnangagwa on
Twitter.
Mahlabera, who is being represented by Collen Maboke of
Ruvengo Maboke and Company, appealed the verdict passed by the ZPCS trial board
but has not received any response from Zimondi.
Ruvengo Maboke and Company, appealed the verdict passed by the ZPCS trial board
but has not received any response from Zimondi.
Maboke confirmed writing to Zimondi but has said he was
now starting to doubt the appeal will be responded to considering the time
which has passed.
now starting to doubt the appeal will be responded to considering the time
which has passed.
“We successfully filed an appeal with the ZPCS Commissioner
General on November 06, 2018, but up to now we haven’t received any form of response
from him and we doubt if he is going to respond,” said Maboke.
General on November 06, 2018, but up to now we haven’t received any form of response
from him and we doubt if he is going to respond,” said Maboke.
In his appeal, Mahlabera seeks wants Zimondi to overturn
his conviction, or to get another punishment which will allow him to go back to
work.
his conviction, or to get another punishment which will allow him to go back to
work.
“If the conviction fails to be overturned, Applicant
prays that the sentence of dismissal be reversed and replaced with a sentence
of a severe reprimand,” reads part of the appeal.
prays that the sentence of dismissal be reversed and replaced with a sentence
of a severe reprimand,” reads part of the appeal.
The prison officer hogged the limelight in the run up to
the July 30 harmonized elections when he allegedly wrote on his Twitter
account, “Come to Chiredzi my President” in response to a tweet on
Chamisa’s massive rally at Jerera gowth point in Zaka.
the July 30 harmonized elections when he allegedly wrote on his Twitter
account, “Come to Chiredzi my President” in response to a tweet on
Chamisa’s massive rally at Jerera gowth point in Zaka.
Chamisa latter went to Chiredzi for a rally, at which he
called Mahlabera onto the podium and defended his right to free speech,
criticizing authorities for persecuting him.
called Mahlabera onto the podium and defended his right to free speech,
criticizing authorities for persecuting him.
The opposition leader also said Mahlabera was free to
join his security team if he felt unwanted by the ZPCS.
join his security team if he felt unwanted by the ZPCS.
Mahlabera was first charged for contravening Section 3(1)
or alternatively 3(46) of the Prison Staff Discipline Regulation of 1984.
or alternatively 3(46) of the Prison Staff Discipline Regulation of 1984.
On the second count, he was charged for contravening
Section 3(46) of Prisons (Staff)(Disciplinary) Regulations 1984 for being
guilty of any other act, conduct, disorder or neglect of duty to the prejudice
of good conduct or discipline as read with section 19(a-g) of Staff General Regulations
1968.
Section 3(46) of Prisons (Staff)(Disciplinary) Regulations 1984 for being
guilty of any other act, conduct, disorder or neglect of duty to the prejudice
of good conduct or discipline as read with section 19(a-g) of Staff General Regulations
1968.
He was found guilty on both charges and was therefore
convicted and was dismissed from his job as a prison officer.
convicted and was dismissed from his job as a prison officer.
Mahlabera is not the only security in Masvingo to be tried
for allegedly supporting Nelson Chamisa, with Constable Tobias Banda being
tried by the police for undermining President Mnangagwa on August 07, 2018, at
Phoenix Bar Canteen in the presence of Assistant Commissioner Crispen Makedenge
and Assistant Inspector Edmos Saranavo.
for allegedly supporting Nelson Chamisa, with Constable Tobias Banda being
tried by the police for undermining President Mnangagwa on August 07, 2018, at
Phoenix Bar Canteen in the presence of Assistant Commissioner Crispen Makedenge
and Assistant Inspector Edmos Saranavo.
