Courts gave new sentences to twelve people who once faced for death penalty after Zimbabwe stopped capital punishment. Judges must review cases for 39 prisoners because the laws have changed. Bernard Mucheka received four life sentences instead of death for killing his ex-girlfriend Lorraine Mtetwa with her three daughters. He burned their house with petrol after she ended their relationship when she learned he was married. The fire happened in Epworth in April 2013. Mtetwa died three days later at the hospital. Her daughters, Colleta, Shamiso, and Rutendo, also died from burns.
Teacher Bernard Chivenga got life in prison for raping his student aged 14 before killing her to hide evidence. Brothers Freddy Dube with Thinkwell Moyo both earned life sentences for murdering a taxi driver from Bulawayo. Justice Mathonsi gave Garikai Tabarinda 30 years for burning his ex-girlfriend Nancy Sibanda with her cousin Cynthia Hlabangana. Tabarinda hired Itai Manyoka to drive him there when he used nine liters of petrol to start the fire. Both women suffered terrible burns to about 60 percent of their bodies before dying two days later.
Other former death row prisoners received sentences between 28 to 35 years. The court system finished twelve cases, but twenty-seven remain pending review under the new laws against capital punishment.
Teacher Bernard Chivenga got life in prison for raping his student aged 14 before killing her to hide evidence. Brothers Freddy Dube with Thinkwell Moyo both earned life sentences for murdering a taxi driver from Bulawayo. Justice Mathonsi gave Garikai Tabarinda 30 years for burning his ex-girlfriend Nancy Sibanda with her cousin Cynthia Hlabangana. Tabarinda hired Itai Manyoka to drive him there when he used nine liters of petrol to start the fire. Both women suffered terrible burns to about 60 percent of their bodies before dying two days later.
Other former death row prisoners received sentences between 28 to 35 years. The court system finished twelve cases, but twenty-seven remain pending review under the new laws against capital punishment.
