Soldier fined $300 after blunder
2005-02-23 20:44
Special Report
The US says "thugs" from Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF party killed a supporter of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and hurt several others at a weekend rally.
Harare - A Zimbabwean army commander has been fined just over $300 after one of his subordinates accidentally shot 14 spectators during a mock battle at a fair last September.
In addition to the fine, court martial president Rodney Munyanduki sent lieutenant Stanley Mugombe, who pleaded guilty, for re-training.
Munyanduki said Mugombe would not be promoted for the next three years, but did not give details of the judgment.
Three people were seriously injured while the others have since recovered from shrapnel wounds in what the prosecution said was the first accident of its kind in Zimbabwe since independence from Britain in 1980.
The accident happened at an agricultural show in Marondera, 65km east of Harare, when live ammunition was used during a mock battle, but details of the incident remain sketchy.
Another soldier who also pleaded guilty will be sentenced this week, while the other five have pleaded not guilty and will be tried later.
Mugombe, 29, who was in charge of the group, pleaded guilty to charges of breaching the defence law by "failing to carry out necessary safety precautions".
Pleading with the court for a lenient sentence, Mugombe's lawyer said he was leading soldiers handpicked from various camps and had "very little control over the soldier who fired live shots".
"The young lieutenant (Mugombe) is a victim of circumstances who had no control over the situation that prevailed at the time," the lawyer said.
"He had no control over the movement of live ammunition where it was not required," he added.
The lawyer said the soldier who opened fire "was ill-trained", adding that it was the responsibility of the army to ensure that "soldiers should be trained to be on their guard every time".
- AFP