George Emmanuel International School director sent...

George Emmanuel International School director sentenced to 24 months in prison

Michael Mashiri

Director of George Emmanuel International School in Nyabira, who kidnapped and assaulted a contractor and made him to do manual labour at his house, has been sentenced to 24 months in prison.

Leonard Chiwaya, 56, appeared before magistrate Caroline Matanga charged with kidnapping and assault.

On his kidnapping charge, he was sentenced to 36 months with 12 months suspended for five years on condition that he does not commit the same crime.

As a result, he was sentenced to an effective 24 months in prison.

On his assault charge, he was sentenced to four months in prison, which were wholly suspended for years.

The complainant in this matter is Tinotenda Sephani, 22, of Mabvuku.

Chiwaya was accused of kidnapping Tinotenda Sephani who had come to the school to install lights.

The State, through prosecutor Takudzwa Chitenderu, alleges that Chiwaya kidnapped Sephani after he falsely accused him of stealing three laptops and pairs of school shoes.

“The accused in the company of Taziva, another accused who is at large, escorted the complainant from George Emmanuel Internation School to Goodhope, Harare, one of the accused’s house. Upon arrival, the complainant was locked inside a small room and spent the whole night in the room. On the 7th of March, 2023, the accused’s wife ordered the complainant to clean the yard the whole day as punishment for stealing the laptops and school shoes.

“After performing these duties, the accused then ordered the complainant to be locked in the same room as a way of restricting movement. The accused ordered the complainant to perform these duties until the 8th of March. On the 9th, the complainant was ferried from Goodhope to Bluffhill in Marlborough where the complainant performed duties at the accused’s wife’s younger sister’s home up to around 1600 hours,” he court heard.

The State also told the court that when Chiwaya’s wife confronted Sephani over the stolen goods, he denied stealing them leading to the accused slapping him on the face.

Sephani is said to have managed to escape while at Chiwaya’s sister-in-law’s home and fled to Westgate where he later filed a police report.

In her ruling, magistrate Matanga said a fine would make the crime seem lesser.

“The accused pleaded not guilty to the count of kidnapping and assault.

“In this case, the court will note that the kidnapping was done in aggravating circumstances, the complainant was made to drink unknown substances and manual work.

“On assault, the complainant noted that he was assaulted with an electric cable. The court noted that he acted out of provocation ... then he took the law unto his hands.

“The kidnapping lasted for four days and the complainant had to escape.

“The court will note that the sentence of a fine will trivialise the matter,” she said.