The Bulawayo Mahimbi magistrate has convicted Sunene Moyo, a member of the Citizens Alliance for Change, and fined him US$100 for sending offensive messages to a political rival.
She was charged with violating Section 88(a) of the Postal and Telecommunications Act, Chapter 12:05, “sending offensive or false telephone messages.”
“You are ordered to pay a fine of US$100 or equivalent ZWL on or before 28 June 2024. In the event of failure to pay, you will effectively serve a two-month prison sentence. The full three months have been suspended on the condition that you do not commit a similar offense in the next four years.
Moyo contested as a dual candidate for the Velandaba-Tshabalala constituency in the 2023 harmonized elections.
She was summoned for sending obscene messages to her rival party member, Raymond Gumbedza, in January 2024.
State representative Joseph Rugara narrated in court that Moyo insulted Gumbedza via text messages and uttered obscenities in violation of the Postal and Telecommunications Act.
“On 4 January 2024, Moyo, using her NetOne mobile number 0712392619, sent a series of highly offensive, indecent, obscene or threatening messages to the complainant on his NetOne mobile number 0772984672 in the Ndebele language,” Rugara said.
Some of the messages captured here read as follows: “Listen, we don’t know each other and I don’t need to know your mind language because I’m going to talk to you, just don’t try to say something.” This makes no sense to me, I’m your mother. Go* *** Your mother if you don’t drink enough to talk – Sonini Moyo is my name, get rid of this name and your mind that is bothering you.
“The messages were translated as follows: ‘Listen to me, you idiot. We don’t know each other and I don’t need to know you. Watch your language because I’ll dirty your mouth.’ Don’t try to talk about something that doesn’t concern you. Faz is your mother. Go and have sex with your mother if You have nothing to talk about. Sonini Moyo is my name, stay away.’
