Fairness Moyana in Hwange
TEN Somali nationals who were arrested for allegedly entering and remaining in Zimbabwe without valid immigration documents have been convicted and sentenced to three months in prison, wholly suspended for five years on condition that they do not commit a similar offence.
The 10 adults will remain in custody pending deportation, while charges against two juveniles, aged 14 and 17, were withdrawn before plea.
The juveniles will remain in the custody of the Superintendent of Rose of Charity Child Protection Organisation pending repatriation and further management.
The 12 were arrested on 3 October after detectives from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Hwange intercepted an Extra City bus travelling from Victoria Falls towards Bulawayo.
The bus, registration number AGL 7275, was intercepted at around 10 pm at the Cinderella railway crossing along the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Highway following a tip-off that suspected foreign nationals were on board.
According to the State, detectives boarded the bus and found the 12 passengers, who allegedly identified themselves as Somali nationals travelling to Bulawayo en route to South Africa.
The State alleged that the group did not have travel documents, permits or visitors’ entry certificates authorising them to be in Zimbabwe, leading to their arrest.
The 10 adults pleaded guilty to contravening Section 29(1), as read with Section 29(2)(a) of the Immigration Act (Chapter 4:02), which prohibits foreign nationals from entering, remaining in or departing from Zimbabwe without the required permits or visitors’ entry certificates.
The juveniles had their charges withdrawn before plea.
The group initially appeared before Hwange Provincial Magistrate Mr Bentone Matope on 5 October and was remanded to 19 October to allow for the availability of a Somali interpreter.
Mr Matope presided over the latest proceedings, with Miss Pride Mharadza representing the State.
The complainant in the matter was an immigration officer stationed at the Department of Immigration in Victoria Falls.
