Five in court for smuggling

FIVE men have been arraigned before a Chiredzi magistrate for allegedly smuggling 160 bales of second hand clothes after evading paying duty at Sango Border Post.

The men also stand accused of allegedly smuggling metal roofing sheets worth over $76 000 through an illegal crossing point near the border post.

The five, Leo Bhila (34), Tapiwa Mapfumo (32), John Madondo (31), Runyararo Zanga (30) and George Musvovi (29) were not asked to plead when they appeared before Mrs Geraldine Mutsoto yesterday facing charges of smuggling.

According to the State, the five Chiredzi-based men allegedly bought bales of second clothes in Mozambique and metal roofing sheets, which they ferried to the Zimbabwe border on 22 May this year.

The prosecutor Mr Ronny Chibatamoto alleged that the men then connived to evade payment of duty and decided to by-pass Sango Border Post by using an illegal entry point into Zimbabwe.

They allegedly used a UD truck registration number ADW 3231, to bring into the country their loot through an illegal entry point at Dumisa.

The truck was allegedly being driven by Bhila and the five allegedly stopped at Chilonga and hid their truck in a bushy area while taking a rest.

A team of police officers from the Minerals and Border Control Unit received a tip-off from villagers in the area about a hidden UD truck loaded with bales of clothes and roofing sheets. Police pounced on the five and asked them to produce documents indicating that they had legally imported all the goods in their vehicle and they failed to produce any.

The bales of second hand clothes together with the roofing sheets were seized and taken to Zimra offices in Chiredzi, while the five accused were arrested.