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Daniel Kachere Court Correspondent
Ousted zanu-pf Harare provincial youth chairperson Godwin Gomwe was yesterday sentenced to 70 hours of community service for criminal insult and violating the Postal and Telecommunications Act. The magistrate Mr Takunda Mutetwa reduced the sentence to community service after slapping him with one month imprisonment.

He will perform the community service at Budiriro Primary School.

The prosecutor Ms Patience Chimusaru submitted that Gomwe (34) had committed serious offences and his moral blameworthiness was high considering his position in the zanu-pf ruling party when he committed the offences.

“Party members were expected to forward their grievances to him, but instead, he abused his position and got caught on the wrong side of the law,” she said.

In mitigation, Gomwe begged the court to be lenient as he was married with four children and was unemployed.

Gomwe pleaded not guilty to the charges.

It is the State’s case that Gomwe assaulted Winnie Madekufamba (52) on December 5 last year during the 6th zanu-pf National People’s Congress in Harare.

He allegedly called her a “gamatox” and a witch.

Gamatox is a term that was used by some zanu-pf officials to refer to fellow party members who were accused of plotting to topple President Mugabe.

Gomwe also shouted at the woman saying he could have sexual intercourse with her and her goblins until they felt dizzy.

It is alleged that Gomwe threatened to incite other party youths to assault her.

On May 6 this year, Gomwe allegedly phoned Cde Abraham Samushonga and insulted him.

Cde Samushonga is said to have put his phone on loud speaker so that a friend he was with could hear the insults and be a witness.