The quartet, Maxwell Marombedza (56), Timothy Nyagadza
(59), Tinashe Tsara (31) and Allan Musakanda (36) last week appeared before
Nyanga magistrate, Ms Annie Ndiraya, charged with opening an educational
institution to learners not exempted during national lockdown as defined in
Section 4 (1) (e) of the Statutory Instrument.
The quartet was ordered to pay $50 000 each or spend six
months in jail after another six months were wholly suspended for five years on
condition of good behaviour. Mr Tafara Chawatamba prosecuted.
The court heard that Marombedza, Nyagadza, Tsara and
Musakanda, on January 13, were found conducting face-to-face lessons at Apex
College in Nyanga with 12 non-examination class learners who are not exempted
from attending lessons during national lockdown.
The four were teaching one Form one, three Form Two, two
Form Three and six incoming Form Four learners.
The register which was used by the quartet to endorse
attending lessons and to record their temperatures was recovered at the scene
and was used as an exhibit in court.
Officer Commanding Manicaland Police (operations) Assistant
Commissioner Johannes Chinembiri Govo revealed yesterday (Thursday) that a
number of operations have been rolled out across the province to curb rampant
violation of lockdown restrictions.
“We have noted with concern that there are some sections of
the society who are not taking the Covid-19 restrictions seriously. There is
unnecessary movement and pirate taxis are still operating ferrying people
across towns.
“This is coming to an end as we are rolling our strict
measures to ensure that people comply with the law. We will constantly monitor
roadblocks across the province to ensure that our officers are complying to
given directives. Some people are not taking curfew seriously and we have
heightened patrols to ensure compliance,” said Asst Comm Govo.
Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Luxson
Chananda, said the lockdown violation offences are categorised in eight
classes.
He said in Mutare, a total of 29 people were arrested for
failing to comply and having liquor at undesignated places, while 548 were
nabbed for flouting road regulations.
91 were arrested for illegal business operations. 1 539
people who could not account for their movement were arrested, while 1 205
people were nabbed for not putting up face masks.
During the on-going enforcement exercises, a total of 802
people were arrested for random criminal nuisance. Insp Chananda encouraged
people to maintain social distancing and adhere to Covid-19 regulations.
Meanwhile, criminal fines have been reviewed upwards with
members of the public who violate lockdown regulations now risk paying a spot
fine of $5000.
The new fine schedule is contained in Statutory Instrument
(SI) 25 of 2021 issued on Monday by the Ministry of Justice Legal and
Parliamentary Affairs.
“It is hereby notified that the minister has, in terms of
section 280 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23 made
the following notice.This notice may be cited as the Criminal Law (Codification
and Reform) (Standard Scale of Fines) Notice 2021,” the SI read.
“The First Schedule to the Codification and Reform Act
Chapter 9:23 is repealed and substituted by the following. Level One $1 000, Level
Two- $2 000, Level Three- $5 000, Level Four- $20 000, Level Five- $30 000,
Level Six- $60 000 and Level Seven $120
000.”
“Levels eight to 14 shall attract the following fines
respectively $200 000, $240 000, $280 000, $400 000, $800 000, $1 200 000 and
$1 600 000. The criminal law codification and reform Standard scale of fines
notice 2020 published Statutory Instrument 272 of 2020 is repealed.” Manica
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