adminAuxilia Katongomara Chronicle Reporter
TWELVE elderly men from Matobo district have been arrested for allegedly kidnapping a farm worker from the disputed Maleme Ranch. The men, armed with knobkerries and axes, allegedly force-marched Cephas Ndlovu, a farm worker employed by the farm’s new owner Rodney Mashingaidze, for about nine kilometres threatening to kill him.
Philimon Moyo, 72, Killion Masuku ,63, Cornelius Ncube, 63, Partson Ncube, 46, Robert Nyathi, 61, Wilson Nyathi, 45, Patrick Dube, 65, Kenisi Sibanda, 65, Michael Nyathi, 62, Sanni Dube, 63, Job Kaunda, 54 and Gabriel Moyo, 53, all from Shumba Shaba Village in Matobo area under Chief Masuku, appeared before Kezi magistrate Jimmy Ntonga facing kidnap charges.
The 12 represented by Bulawayo lawyer Tanaka Muganyi, were granted free bail due to their advanced ages.
They will be back in court on March 19 for trial.
Prosecuting, Jefta Nyikadzinashe told the court that on Monday at around 8AM, Ndlovu was at Maleme Ranch doing his normal duties when the 12 men arrived at the farm armed with knobkerries and axes.
“They ordered Ndlovu to leave the farm house or risk being killed. They proceeded to force him to pack his possessions and to surrender his keys to Peter Moyo,” said Nyikadzinashe.
The court heard that they force-marched Ndlovu from Maleme Ranch towards Natisa shopping centre using a foot path.
The group allegedly threatened to club and axe Ndlovu if he tried to escape.
“When they approached Natisa centre, they met Mashingaidze who rescued Ndlovu,” Nyikadzinashe told the court.
He said Mashingaidze called the police who came to the scene and arrested the elderly men.
The state had proposed that the elderly men be granted $300 bail, never set foot at Maleme Ranch, report once a week to Kezi police station, surrender travel documents and not interfere with state witnesses and the complainant.
However, magistrate Ntonga granted the group free bail. He ordered them not to interfere with witnesses and reside at their homesteads for the duration of the trial.
Bongani Moyo
Online Reporter