BEITBRIDGE - Three suspected border jumpers drowned in the crocodile infested Limpopo River while being assisted to illegally cross the border into South Africa, a magistrate heard on Tuesday. Beitbridge magistrate Kudakwashe Mhene heard this when John Mapfumo (24) of River Ranch in Beitbridge appeared before him on culpable homicide charges.
Mapfumo is being accused of attempting to assist the three to illegally cross the river, resulting in them drowning. He was remanded in custody to 13 May.
The prosecutor, Forster Abheki, said on 16 April at around 7am, the accused spotted the now deceased at an undesignated entry point along the Limpopo River. He then approached them and offered to assist them illegally cross the river.
The court heard that while in the middle of the flooded river, the three border jumpers drowned and Mapfumo tried to rescue them, but to no avail.
He further attempted to retrieve the bodies, but failed and then took their clothes and hid them to conceal the matter.
The matter, however, came to light when Mapfumo confided to his workmate about the incident, prompting the friend to report it to the police.
Raphael Nyamande and his unidentified wife also appeared in court as key witnesses. The couple is among a group of people who at one time have been assisted by the accused to illegally cross the border.
Despite the relaxation of visa requirements poor Zimbabweans opt for border jumping, as they cannot raise the amounts required to process passports. The cheapest passport application is US$160, an amount that is earned by an average civil servant per month.
Post published in: Politics