Disqualified Zanu PF candidate Nyemudzo sentenced ...

Disqualified Zanu PF candidate Nyemudzo sentenced 18 months for illicit beer brewing

The Mirror Masvingo on Twitter: "Chipinge South Zanu PF primary election winner, Robert Nyemudzo has been sentenced to two years in prison for illicit beer brewing. Magistrate Frank Mkwananzi suspended six months

Robert Nyemudzo, a disqualified Zanu-PF candidate for Chipinge South, was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment by magistrate Mr Franklin Mkwananzi for brewing illicit beer at his home at Checheche growth point.

Nyemudzo was facing charges of contravening the Harmful Liquids Act and was convicted after the State found implicating evidence against him.

He was sentenced to 24 months and had six suspended on condition that the accused does not commit a similar offence in the next five years.

Nyemudzo’s lawyer, Mr Simon Simango of Nyikadzino and Simango Associates, pleaded for a moderate sentence citing that he was found clean.

“Your worship, I am pleading with the courts to pass a light sentence in the form of a fine or community service because he is a first offender.

“The accused is a family man with two wives and eight children and if the courts give him a custodial sentence, it will ruin the future of his family.

“He is a benefactor of the family and is taking care of his ailing father and mother. The accused emerged victorious in the just ended Zanu PF primary election and the party hierarchy sent a team to investigate the alleged offence and found him clean,” Mr Simango said.

However, the State led by Mr Thulani Zondwayo dismissed the submission and said a restrictive sentence for the accused was appropriate.

“There are aggravating circumstances in this matter. The accused was brewing beer in large quantities for commercial purposes.

“A report from forensic scientists on the contents of the illicit beer is frightening on the level on which the brew is dangerous to consumers. The accused used fake names of recognised brands to push sales to unsuspecting consumers which is not fair. Therefore, I am praying for a custodial sentence,” Mr Zondwayo said.

Mr Mkwananzi said the court had proved with no reasonable doubt that Mr Nyemudzo committed the offence.

“This is a serious offence which deserves a custodial sentence. Illicit beer and drugs have caused untold suffering to the people in the country. The Government has taken stern measures in fighting drug abuse and the judiciary has also taken an equally stern view against drugs. It will be a mockery to the justice system to pass a light sentence as we want to deter would-be offenders,” Mr Mkwananzi said.

The police had found Nyemudzo’s employees brewing illicit beer. They were diluting ethanol blend with water.

The police then confiscated 20, 360x200mls bottles of illicit beer and 2, 380x200mls empty plastic bottles as well as 6×20 litre buckets of ethanol blend.