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Munyaradzi Musiiwa Midlands Correspondent
A Gweru man has been fined $200 after being convicted of pulling down MDC Alliance campaign posters.

Emmanuel Mangena (31) of Ridgemont suburb in Gweru appeared before Gweru provincial magistrate Mrs Phathekhile Msipa for contravening the Electoral Act by defacing or destroying campaign posters.

Mangena pleaded guilty and was fined $200 or two months in prison if he fails to pay the fine.

For the State, Ms Memory Chitsunge told the court that on July 1, Mangena removed and destroyed posters of MDC Alliance presidential and parliamentary candidates, which was in violation of the Electoral Act.

Ms Chitsunge said on the said date at around 1800hrs, Mangena was drinking beer at Northlea Shopping Centre in Gweru when he started defacing and destroying MDC Alliance campaign posters.

She said Mangena went around the shopping centre destroying the posters and pulling down some of them from street light poles.

The court heard that fellow patrons tried to stop him, but he threatened them with unspecified action.

Ms Chitsunge said the matter was reported to the police ,leading to his arrest. In mitigation, Mangena said he was drunk and was not in total control of his actions and pleaded with the court to be lenient.