CUTHBERT MAVUNGA, sentenced to death by a Special Court, had his appeal dismissed on 31 August. He was described as a member of a guerilla group and had been captured after an engagement with Rhodesian security forces in which he was shot in the leg, Chief Justice Sir Hugh Beadle said that the Special Court had taken full account of the facts that Mavunga had shown contrition and had cooperated after capture. However, the sentence conformed with others passed down in similar cases and he saw no reason to interfere with it. (RH 1.9.76; BBC 2.9.76)
ISAKI GWAZE (17), a guerilla who lost a leg after being wounded in a battle with Rhodesian security forces, had his appeal against a death sentence imposed on 16 June dismissed on 31 August. (See FOCUS 5 p. 4; RH 1.9.76)
BLESSING CHIEZA, from Mutambara TTL, Cashel, who was sentenced to death on 23 (7) June by a Special Court at Umtali for assisting or harbouring guerillas, had his sentence commuted to life imprisonment on 1 September. (See FOCUS 6, p. 15; RH 2.9.76)
GODFREY BEZVERO (19) and NICHOLAS BALUTU (19), each had 3 years of a 5 year sentence suspended by the Appeal Court on 2 September. They had been convicted of conspiring together to undergo guerilla training, but according to the Chief Justice had not finally made up their minds whether to go through with the venture. (RH 3.9.76)
ROBERT MARUNGISA (33), found guilty in February 1976 of murder as an accomplice to a guerilla group, had his sentence reduced from 18 to 3 years imprisonment at the beginning of September. His conviction was altered to the lesser crime of culpable homicide. At Marungisa's trial in February the judge had described the case as a borderline one between prison and the death penalty. (See FOCUS 4, p. 5; RH 3.9.76)
A 4-year sentence was described as "manifestly excessive" by the Appeal Court on 3 (?) September. TOZOWAWEPI ZVAREVAMAMBO, convicted by a Special Court at Umtali for failing to report the presence of guerillas, had his sentence reduced from 4 years to 4 years with 2½ years conditionally suspended. (See FOCUS 6, p. 15; RH 4.9.76)
DARLINGTON PHILLIMON KANYASA (23), who had pleaded that his was a case of mistaken identity at a trial on 18 June in Salisbury, had his appeal against the death sentence dismissed on (probably) 7 September. As in the trial itself, the court directed that no information be published disclosing or likely to disclose the place or the nature of the place where Mr. Kanyasa was arrested. (See FOCUS 6, p. 15; RH 8.9.76)
NTISI ANTHONY MAGAGULA had his appeal against a 4 year prison sentence (18 months suspended) dismissed on 15 September. He had been convicted of failing to report the presence of guerillas. At his trial, Magagula had said that 3 men, whom he knew to be "fighting for us and for the country" had visited his area with the aim of forming a branch of the ANC. He had not realised at the time that the men were "strangers" who should have been reported. (RH 16.9.76)
RAMECK MUKWEKWE, sentenced to death by a Special Court at Inyanga at the end of July, had his appeal dismissed on 24 (?) September. Mr. Mukwekwe had been convicted of committing an "act of terrorism or sabotage" by warning 8 guerillas camped near his kraal, of the presence of two district assistants. The two had subsequently been executed by the guerillas. (See FOCUS 6, p. 15; RH 25.9.76)
A headman, MANDIDE MAKABVEPI, and seven unnamed men had their sentences reduced by the Appeal Court of 30 September. The eight men had each been sentenced to 4 years imprisonment by a Special Court in Umtali in June for failing to report the presence of guerillas. The Appeal Court, in reducing Mr. Makabvepi's sentence to 4 years with 2 suspended, and the other seven sentences to 18 months, with one year suspended, found that the Special Court had not been in possession of "further facts". Makabvepi had advised the other appellants that he would report the guerillas, but in the event had been unable to notify the authorities until after the statutory time had elapsed. (See FOCUS 6, p. 15; RH 1.10.76)
