Ex-President of Zimbabwe Sentenced for Sodomy, Assault
HARARE, Zimbabwe — Former Zimbabwean President Canaan Banana was sentenced Monday to 10 years in jail at hard labor for sodomy and indecent assault, but with nine years suspended.
High Court Judge Godfrey Chidyausiku also recommended psychiatric treatment for Banana, saying that from the evidence of his assaults on men, the former president appeared to be sick.
Banana, married with four adult children, is a former Methodist minister and was president of the southern African nation for seven years until 1987. He was found guilty in November of 11 counts of sodomy, attempted sodomy and indecent assault.
He was found to have raped one of his aides, Jefta Dube, during his presidency and to have forced him into a sexual relationship.
In an 11-page ruling made available Monday, the judge criticized the government for failing to prosecute Banana in the 1980s, when officials received complaints against him.
He ordered Banana, 62, to pay restitution to Dube and to the family of a police officer shot dead by Dube for taunting him over his involuntary relationship with the head of state.
The court granted Banana leave to appeal and left him under house arrest, where he has been for the past month.
The judge suspended the nine years on condition that Banana pay the restitution.
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
