CITIZENS Coalition for Change (CCC) spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere was Wednesday convicted and fined US$500 for communicating falsehoods where she posted a video alleging that a police officer had killed a baby in 2020.
Mahere posted on her Twitter handle, a viral video of a visibly agitated woman tussling with a police operative accusing him of striking and killing her baby with a baton stick.
She was found guilty of communicating a falsehood detrimental to the State and law enforcement after a full trial during which she refused the accusations.
Mahere was however found not guilty in the main charge of publishing falsehoods.
Delivering his ruling, Harare magistrate Taurai Manuwere said Mahere will face a three months jail term if she fails to pay the fine.
“I amm not going to send you to prison because your moral blameworthiness is not too high.
“You are a female first offender gainfully employed.
“A custodial sentence will make you lose employment and cause suffering to your parents who rely on you,” said the magistrate.
Speaking to journalists after her sentencing, Mahere said every citizen must be allowed to speak freely.
“At the end of the day, the constitution must be respected, no citizen should ever be afraid to speak freely.
“So as citizens who have desires of change, we are hopeful about a new Zimbabwe that courage to speak in line with the constitution permits should never be taken away so regardless of what transpired today, I remain bound by what the constitution provides, which is the freedom to speak freely,” Mahere said.
Mahere has been on remand for almost over two years.
