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Pirate gets two years imprisonment |
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Monday, 04 June 2012 14:18 |
 A Harare man, Nyasha Magunje has been sentenced to two years in prison for impersonating Reverend Toggy Chivaviro as well as pirating his CD album entitled ‘Nguva Yakanakisisa’.
Nyasha Magunje pleaded guilty to the charges of piracy and of committing wilful copyright infringement after admitting to changing the title name of Reverend Toggy Chivaviro’s CD album Nguva Yakanakisa which he sold at several church gatherings in and around Harare.
Six months were however suspended on condition that Magunje does not commit a similar crime within five years.
Reverend Chivaviro who is now based in South Africa said the verdict is the right outcome as the court has handed down a strong deterrent sentence that reflect the seriousness of the crime committed.
Reverend Chivaviro commended police for a great job adding that music pirates who are stealing from artists and songwriters are also taking sales from legitimate CD retailers thus destroying the local music industry since there is no money for reinvestment in the industry.
Magunje was arrested on Wednesday last week and was convicted and sentenced on Friday.
This is the first time a music pirate has been jailed in Zimbabwe and artists say the judgement is a victory for the local arts industry.
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