A 25-year-old Manhenga – Bindura man accused of contravening the Firearms Act after
being found with 57 live rounds and 41x22mm live rounds of ammunition has been sentenced
to 12 months behind bars.
Charles Munyaradzi Zhoya pleaded guilty when he appeared before Bindura Magistrate
Samantha Dhlamini, who slapped him with 12 months custodial sentence before suspending
four months on condition of good behaviour for the next five years.
In her ruling Dhlamini argued that community service or fine would trivialise the offence,
hence Zhoya deserved jail sentence because his intentions for possessing ammunition were
not known and cases of robberies were now proliferating.
In his defence Zhoya told the court that: “I admit to the allegations leveled against me I was
found in possession of live rounds of ammunition. I picked them besides the street in
Chipadze and was fearing to surrender them to police.”
For the Prosecution Chipo Chinoda submitted that on 11 January after 12pm Bindura ZRP
detectives arrested Tatenda Gatsi for possession of ammunition without a licence of firearms.
Upon being interrogated he led them to Zhoya as the one who had given him 38 special live
rounds.
On 25 January Zhoya was arrested and then led details to his place of residence, where they
recovered 57 live rounds and 41x22mm live rounds of ammunition hidden in his room.