It is believed that the majority of political trials under the Law and Order (Maintenance) Act are now being heard before special courts martial comprising nominees of the security forces. None of these hearings are reported in the press. Trials before conventional courts in recent months include:
5 December 1978: Que Que Magistrates Court Passing of sentence was postponed for 5 years after JOSEPH MKWEBU (33), the Roman Catholic priest in charge of the Kana Mission, Gokwe area, was convicted of harbouring and assisting guerillas by giving a group medical treatment.
19 March: Harare Magistrates Court SQUARE CHAFACHAIPA, a truck driver, was sentenced to 2 years imprisonment, conditionally suspended for 5 years, for failing to report guerillas. His truck had been stopped by guerillas in the Chikwaka TTL when he was delivering goods to a store in the Goromonzi area.
19 March: Salisbury High Court MUCHIPIKA CEPHAS SHAWA (20) was sentenced to 18 years imprisonment on conviction of possessing arms of war. He had been captured in December 1977 in the Rusape area. The sentence was imposed despite defence counsel pleas for leniency on the grounds that Shawa had expressed his willingness to join the security forces, and in apparent conflict with numerous announcements by the regime of an amnesty for guerillas willing to change sides and join the internal.
27 February: Essexvale HENRY JIYANE (20) and COLLEN DUBE (20) were each sentenced to 7 years imprisonment for attempting to undergo guerilla training. NQOBIZITHA MPOFU (16) was sentenced to 3 years (suspended) and 8 cuts on the same charge. He was released after receiving the cuts.
5 March: Salisbury High Court The case of 9 youths and a man, MUTZANGWA WHIZA, charged with collaborating with guerillas by capturing certain persons in the Mangwende TTL, Mrewa, and handing them over as "sell-outs", finally reached its conclusion nine months after the accused first appeared before the Regional Court. They were variously sentenced to up to 3 months imprisonment, suspended, and/or 4 cuts. Whiza was acquitted.
10 April: Gwelo RICHARD SIBANDA (19), JOB SIBANDA (18), and FEDERATION GWEMENDE (17) each received suspended prison terms of 18 years on conviction of attempting to go for guerilla training. The three accused were released.
25 June: Marandellas Magistrates Court Passing of sentence was postponed for 5 years after Father Maximin Z. MUZUNGU (36), the deputy priest in charge of the Roman Catholic Regina Coeli Mission, was found guilty of attempting to assist guerillas. At the time of his arrest in November 1978, Father Muzungu had been acting as liaison for the International Red Cross and had been instrumental in opening three clinics in the area, the Nyamaropa TTL. His trial was attended by, among others, Bishop Donal Lamont of Umtali.
