ZIMBABWE – MUTARE – The MDC MP for Mutare West in Manicaland province, Shuah Mudiwa – jailed for seven years two weeks back on charges of kidnapping – has been granted a US$2 000 bail by a Mutare magistrate.   

 

Mudiwa appealed against his conviction and sentence last week, and appeared in court yesterday where he won his freedom.

 

 

Mudiwa is accused with two other MDC supporters of kidnapping a 12 year-old girl in his constituency in 2007.

 

 

He was sentenced to seven years in prison by Magistrate Hlekani Mwayera.

 

Two and a half years of the sentence were wholly suspended on condition of good behaviour.

 

Mudiwa challenged the sentence and was granted bail by the same magistrate. The incarceration of Mudiwa and seven other MDC MPs facing trumped-up charges are part of a well-orchestrated campaign to intimidate and frustrate the MDC, analysts say.

---

JOIN ZIMBABWE'S OWN SOCIAL NETWORKING SITE

---

Senior MDC officials say the Cabinet boycott last week was also aimed at protesting the jailing of MDC legislators.

 

The MDC says there are residual elements in Zanu-PF and in the inclusive government who want to scuttle the new political dispensation.

 

MDC officials claim the so-called hardliners are bent on frustrating the MDC and whittling down its majority in Parliament.

 

The MDC is the majority party in Parliament and the largest political movement in the country after it garnered 100 seats in the House of Assembly in the 29 March 2008 harmonised elections against Zanu-PF’s 99.

 

---

Zimbabwe's Fastest Growing Website - Click Here

---

 

 

JOKE OF THE DAY - A lawyer was cross-examining the doctor about whether or not he had checked the pulse of the deceased before he signed the death certificate.

 

"No," the doctor said. "I did not check his pulse." "And did you listen for a heartbeat?" asked the lawyer. "No I did not," the doctor said. "So," said the lawyer, "when you signed the death certificate, you had not taken steps to make sure he was dead."

 

The doctor said, "Well, let me put it this way. The man's brain was in a jar on my desk but, for all I know, he could be out practicing law somewhere."

 

Got a story, joke, quote, opinion or want your letter published, please e-mail Editor at editor@zimdaily.com