FORBES BORDER – Zimbabwe Revenue Authority officials at Forbes border post foiled a smuggling attempt by a South African driver.
Wouters Pretorius (31) was arrested while trying to smuggle 2 847x 10 packets of cigarettes with a street value of $3 795. He has since appeared before a Mutare magistrate for contravening Section 182 of the Customs and Exercise Act 23:02.
Pretorius was sentenced to 30 days in prison with an option to pay $200 fine. According to police details, Pretorius who was driving an Iveco truck with a South African registration, arrived at Forbes border post at around 8pm on October 28. Zimra officials searched his vehicle and recovered the cigarettes stashed in a secret cabinet. – Marcus Tawona
Top MDC member sentenced
GOKWE – Forty-two-year-old Cephas Zimuti, the MDC-T former Midlands North Chairman, has been given a wholly suspended three month imprisonment term for allegedly assaulting his wife.
He is the third MDC-T official to be hauled before the local courts this year.
Magistrate Shepherd Mjanja heard that on a date unknown to Ndamu Chikuni, the prosecutor, Zimuti’s wife, Shelter Dziripi, did not return to their matrimonial home when expected. Upon Dziripi’s return, Zimuti allegedly assembled his family members for a discussion. It was during that gathering that Zimuti allegedly hit Dziripi with a whip.
In his defence, Zimuti said he acted out of anger and did not intend to deliberately cause any injuries or pain to Dziripi. In passing judgement, magistrate Mjanja said the MDC-T official deserved mercy because he was a first offender. The three month jail term was subsequently set aside on condition that Zimuti pays a $100 fine. – Brenna Matendere
Warrant of arrest for activist
MARONDERA – The Magistrates’ court here has issued a warrant of arrest for MDC-T activist, Kenneth Jack, for failing to turn up for trial last week Wednesday.
Jack and his co-accused, party Provincial Security Officer, Wellington Makonese, were expected to answer to assault charges laid against them by Zanu (PF) but Jack absconded. As a result of Jack’s no show, the trial was adjourned to 21 November 2012. According to the State case, accused MDC-T activists attacked Zanu (PF) youths at the Murewa Road turn off near Dombotombo in May this year.
Charges have been denied by the accused. – Staff reporter
Woman jailed for assault
GWERU – Local magistrate, Sithembinkosi Msipa, has sentenced a Gweru woman to three years in prison for assaulting her mother-in-law.
It was the state’s case that on 25 September, Thobekile Nkomo visited her mother-in-law Miviro Sibanda at her homestead in Matshabeleni village. Sibanda reportedly refrained Nkomo from picking quarrels in the community. She also allegedly warned Nkomo against soiling her name.
However, Nkomo lost her patience and began assaulting her mother-in-law with an iron bar saying she was making false accusations against her.
According to a medical report produced in court, the old woman suffered a swollen arm. – Brenna Matendere
ZRP on illegal mining charge
GWERU – The Officer-In-Charge at Mtapa police station and three other juniors have appeared before a local magistrate facing illegal mining charges.
This follows their involvement in the illegal mining of gold at Summerset farm, 10 Km from the city centre. The farm is not registered as a mine.
Prosecutor Anesu Hatigari told the court that on 31 October, Mtapa police station OIC, Shadman Fungulani (37), together with junior officers, Thomas Chademana (47), Owen Sibanda (28) and Elias Mapfumo (31) travelled to Khumalo farm, Summerset Gweru, along Matobo road.
Before they arrived at the farm, they then allegedly hatched a plan to fold the vehicle number plates inside out in order to conceal the vehicle identification registration numbers.
Upon arrival, the three allegedly dug for gold ore and collected it in four sacks. Other police officers who were on patrol to investigate skirmishes at the farm discovered the vehicle.
On their arrest, four sacks of gold ore, four shovels and two picks were allegedly discovered in their possession. These are being held as exhibits.
Magistrate Mildred Mutuvi granted them $200 bail each before setting 22 November as the trial date. – Brenna Matendere
Diamond dealers in court
MUTARE – Four illegal diamond dealers have been arraigned before the courts here on charges of extorting from and kidnapping a member of the Zimbabwe National Army based at the Mutare School of Logistics.
In a state case led by prosecutor Nelson Makunyire it is alleged that on 22 October this year the soldier, Takunda Mandanda (36), met the four illegal dealers Tendai (29) Evans Shumba (36), Richard Champaningi (46) and Cidi Diakite (31) at Travellers’ Lodge in the city centre.
Clad in army uniform, Mandanda was given a 12 carat diamond piece for sampling by the four illegal dealers. Makunyire told the court that, in the process of sampling the 12 carat piece of diamond, Mandanda swallowed it.
This enraged the four illegal diamond dealers who then drove to a surgery in Mandanda’s car and forced him to drink paraffin to induce vomiting.
The illegal diamond dealers then took Mandanda to a house in Weaver Crescent in the low density suburb of Greenside.
Makunyire added that whilst at the house, the illegal diamond dealers then forced Mandanda to make an agreement to sell his vehicle as compensation for the swallowed diamond.
The following day at 11am, the illegal diamond dealers took Mandanda to some lawyers (Mugadza and Chinzamba Legal Practitioners) in the city who then processed the agreement of sale documents resulting in the illegal diamond dealers taking the vehicle.
On 28 October Mandanda made a police report leading to the arrest of the four and they appeared before Mutare Magistrate Alex Shumba facing kidnapping and extortion charges.
Magistrate Shumba remanded the four to 19 November on $100 bail each. – Clayton Masekesa
Fake employees dupe job seekers
MUTARE – Two job seekers lost over $5 000 to two local men who promised to get them jobs at Mbada Diamonds in Marange. Amos Chisumbi and his accomplice Chiwara, who is still at large, duped two job seekers of $5 130.
Chisumbi promised his friend Edson Nderere of Chikanga that he could secure him a job as security guard at the mining firm. Nderere had to sell some of his household property to raise the money. Chisumbi appeared before magistrate Annia Ndiraya to answer charges of fraud.
Appearing for the State, prosecutor Fletcher Karombe said some time in September 2011, the accused Amos Chisumbi and his accomplice Chiwara acted in cahoots to defraud Edson Nderere who was seeking a job.
Chisumbi, who is denying the charges, was remanded in custody for trial. – Staff reporter
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