A Zimbabwean court, on Tuesday, sentenced three music promoters to six months imprisonment for violating COVID-19 rules.
Tinashe Chinachimwe, Arnold Kamudyariwa and Tafadzwa Kadzimwe were said to organise all night music concert at the heart of Harare's most populous suburb of Mbare, on New Year’s eve, having thousands of people in attendance.
The all night music concert was described as 'superspreader event'.
It was reported that the arrest of the 3 music promoters coincided with a drastic increase in COVID-19 cases in the country, recording daily infections of 1,365 on January 5.
Prosecutor Michael Reza accused the music promoters of attempting to murder thousands of people through their reckless actions amidst this critical situation.
He said "The three circulated a banner on social media headed 'Thursday December 31, 6pm to 6am’
"They overlooked the curfew and invited over 22 artists to perform.
"A message must be sent to all that you don't risk people's lives in this manner.”
He added that "What they did is akin to attempted murder; the seriousness of their offence must be reflected in the sentence."
It was also reported that four police officers stationed close to the venue of event have since been suspended on ‘charge of negligence’.