BULAWAYO – Three men were handed suspended jail terms and dozens others were cautioned and discharged after police arrested 131 youths in Bulawayo weekend raids targeting so-called Vuzu parties.
Bhekimuzi Moyo, 20, Prichard Sibanda, 22, and Alex Ndlovu, 20, admitted criminal nuisance but were spared jail by Bulawayo magistrate Franklin Mkhwananzi who ordered that they should complete 105 hours of community service after giving them wholly suspending three-month prison sentences.
The trio were arrested on Saturday outside The Vista restaurant and bar in the city centre. They were drinking in public and engaging in anti-social behaviour, said prosecutor Mufaro Mageza.
Zenzele Ndlovu, 20, Bongani Mhlanga, 19, Tatenda Mpofu, 18, Valentine Sibanda, 26, Sebala Moketsi, 24, and Gabriel Tarambiwa, 22, all pleaded guilty to criminal nuisance after they were arrested at the Centenary Park on Saturday night while playing loud music and drinking alcohol.
The six escaped with cautions.
Scores of parents besieged Bulawayo Central Police station on Monday morning, as police battled with paperwork to get the youths to court before the expiry of the 48-hour detention deadline for suspects.
A large number of the 131 did not appear in court as their paperwork was not ready, and many were released.
Police in Bulawayo launched an operation against anti-social behaviour by youths, who are known to hold small, drug and alcohol-fuelled private get-togethers known as “Vuzu parties” during the last weekend before schools open, or on the first weekend after schools close.
Police say the parties expose young people, including teenagers as young as 13, to drugs and other dangerous substances.
