High Court overturns conviction of Bulawayo woman for disciplining teenagers
Loraine Phiri
Bulawayo, Zimbabwe – In a significant legal development, High Court Judge Justice Evangelista Kabasa has overturned the conviction and two-year sentence of Ms. Panashe Mpofu.
The Bulawayo resident was previously imprisoned for disciplining a group of Form 2 teenagers, including her own son, for hosting a Vuzu party during school hours in Luveve.
Ms. Mpofu had been detained at Mlondolozi Prison since November 14, 2024, but was released following Justice Kabasa’s ruling, which deemed the original conviction a “miscarriage of justice.” The judge issued a warrant of liberation, effectively quashing the conviction and sentence.
Journalist, Ezra Tshisa Sibanda highlighted the decision on social media, stating, “The lenient Judge Kabasa issued a warrant of liberation and squashed the conviction and 2-year sentence imposed on Ms. Panashe Mpofu. The Bulawayo woman has been released from Mlondolozi prison where she was to spend her sentence for disciplining Form 2 teenagers, including her own child, for hosting a Vuzu party during school hours in Luveve.”
The case garnered significant attention and sparked widespread debate. Many on social media platforms argued that Mpofu was acting within her parental rights by disciplining the teenagers for their inappropriate behavior.
Legal experts, as reported by the Ezra Tshisa Sibanda page, have criticized the initial handling of the case, suggesting it should not have escalated beyond the police station level. The consensus among these experts is that the judicial process might have been overly harsh given the circumstances.
Ms. Mpofu was represented by Mr. Tinashe Runganga of Tanaka Law Chambers in Bulawayo, who played a key role in appealing her case to the High Court.
This ruling not only marks a pivotal moment for Ms. Mpofu but also ignites discussions on the boundaries of parental discipline and legal repercussions in Zimbabwe. The case underscores the complexities of balancing parental authority with legal justice in contemporary society.
