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Harare magistrate Vongai Muchuchuti has sentenced former Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare minister, Petronella Kagonye to 16 months imprisonment after finding her guilty of Theft Wednesday.
Kagonye was convicted of converting 20 computers donated by the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (POTRAZ) to benefit schools in Goromonzi South Constituency where she was legislator in 2018.
Muchuchuti initially sentenced her to 36 months in prison but set aside 12 months for five years on condition of good behaviour.
Another eight months were set aside on condition that Kagonye restitutes US$10 000 to POTRAZ which is equivalent to the computers she deprived the beneficiaries of.
“The accused person is the best person to make sure that the schools within her constituency benefit but she decided to take the bread away from the hungry children.”
“The conviction certainly embraces her which is a severe punishment on its own with the serious development problems the country is facing. It is sad that one can steal public funds.
“There is a need for the accused to restitute the value of the computers so that those meant to benefit still benefit,” Muchuchuti said while passing sentence. Nhau/Indaba
