Own Correspondent|Five people who were associated with a group of demonstrators who torched Southlea Park Police Station in Harare, two police vehicles and the Skyline tollgate during the citizen protests that rocked the country last month were each sentenced to an effective three years in jail after being found guilty of public violence on Wednesday.

Tawanda Sibanda (22), Tafadzwa Murape (20), Lorencia Kachidza (47), Vincent Jonasi (26) and Ronald Garanánga (21) were initially jailed for five years by Mbare magistrate Marwehwanazvo Gofa before he suspended two years from each sentence on condition of good behaviour.

Brighton Sabawo (22) was sentenced to perform 400 hours of community service at Southlea Park Primary School after the court ruled that he only bought looted goods.

In passing sentence, Gofa said the five were facing a serious offence which resulted in large-scale destruction of property.

He said it was not wrong to demonstrate, but people should learn to do so in a peaceful manner.

Gofa said a custodial sentence was appropriate to send a stern warning to would-be offenders.

Sabawo and Garanánga were later seen carrying solar panels stolen from the tollgate.

The other convicts were arrested following a tip-off.