LAWYERS representing political activist Josphat Mzaca Ngulube have challenged and finally won the incarceration of the aspiring Bulawayo legislator who was last year jailed seven years for public violence.

Ngulube was convicted on charges of burning three cars and property at a house belonging to Zanu PF Bulawayo provincial women’s league chairperson Eva Bitu during the violent January protests.

He was convicted alongside Fortune Masuku, Melusi Moyo and Otilia Sibanda who have all also been granted freedom on bail pending appeal.

Ngulube contested the 2018 parliamentary elections as an independent candidate in Bulawayo South constituency before joining the MDC last year.

“Mzaca” and four others were in January this year taken from Khami Prison where they were languishing since their sentencing in November last year and were transferred to Harare under unclear circumstances.

The State’s case, as presented by Jetro Mada, was that on January 14 at about 7am, Ngulube, acting in connivance with 100 others, unlawfully blocked the free movement of traffic at the intersection of Sizinda Road and Nketa Drive.

Mada said the crew accused Bitu of solely benefiting from taxpayers’ money and pushed her Ford Ranger out of the yard and set it alight.

“Accused persons went back into the yard where they had left a Nissan NP300 and a Toyota Vitz. They set alight the Nissan whose flames destroyed part of the Vitz. The Ford Ranger and Nissan NP300 were burnt beyond repair,” Mada said.

Mada said the cars had a total value of US$95 000.

High Court Judge Justice Martin Makonese, Monday, granted ‘Mzaca’ ZWL$2000 bail pending appeal against both conviction and his seven-year sentence.

As part of the bail conditions, Justice Makonese ordered that Ngulube reports every fortnight at Tshabalala police station and he continues to stay at his place of residence in Tshabalala.