Vharazipi yanks two CD pirates to court
By Fungai Lupande
David Mubaiwa, the famous Sabhuku Vharazipi character in the drama by the same name, made a surprise appearance at the Harare magistrates’ courts last Friday after apprehending two people selling pirated discs of Sabhuku Vharazipi 1 and 2 on the streets.
Daniel Maramba (41) and Christine Nemakonde (24) appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Tendai Mahwe charged with selling the pirated discs.
The pair, who appeared in court separately, pleaded guilty to contravening the copyright law. Mr Mahwe fined them US$300 each or six months in prison. Maramba was ordered to pay the fine forthwith and forfeit copies of the pirated drama to the State.
Nemakonde was ordered to pay US$50 forthwith after pleading with the court that she had no money on her and was ordered to pay the balance on or before November 29. She was also told to forfeit copies of the pirated discs to the State.
In passing sentence, Mr Mahwe considered that the two were first time offenders who did not waste the court’s time by pleading guilty.
“However, what aggravates your offences is that you were selling pirated discs of a production that was not published,” he said.
“You were benefiting before the owner did.”
In mitigation, the jobless Maramba told the court that he was a first time offender and married with five children.
“I have money in savings and I don’t have any assets of value. Life hardships led me to sell the pirated discs of Sabhuku Vharazipi 1 and 2 so that I can put food on the table,” he said.
Nemakonde, who is also unemployed, told the court that she was a single mother who was struggling to make ends meet.
“I have a child who is always sick and look after other dependants, she said. Through selling pirated discs, I was just looking for money to look after them”
On November 6, Maramba was apprehended by Mubaiwa at the corner of Julius Nyerere and Robert Mugabe streets while in possession of eight pirated discs of Sabhuku Vharazipi 1 and 2.
Nemakonde was also nabbed close to Julius Nyerere Spar by Mubaiwa, with four pirated discs of Sabhuku Vharazipi 1 and 2, and 50 international pirated discs. Mubaiwa took the pair to Harare Central Police Station where he made a report. The Herald
