HARARE – Former Highfield MP Psychology Maziwisa and the broadcaster Oscar Pambuka were on Wednesday granted bail after appealing their conviction and sentence at the High Court.

Harare magistrate Lazini Ncube, who sentenced the duo to 30 months imprisonment each last week, acceded to the bail on condition the two men surrender their passports.

Bail was set at $800 each and the two men must report once to the police every month.

Pambuka and Maziwisa were jailed for defrauding the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) of $12,000 for public relations services they did not perform.

Their lawyer, Jonathan Samukange, told the magistrate he thought the sentences handed out were too harsh and excessive.

“You’re human, Your Worship. You might have made an error or might have been a little harsh in sentencing them. They might get a lighter sentence at the High Court. Another court might have a different approach,” Samukange said.

The State would “suffer no prejudice by giving another court a chance to look at the case,” he added.