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Thupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
Three more suspects appeared before a Beitbridge magistrate yesterday charged with public violence that resulted in the destruction of property and looting of shops last Friday. Police have so far arrested 74 people in connection with the violence that rocked the border town emanating from a Statutory Instrument restricting importation of certain products.
Nhlanhla Moyo (26) Delight Masuka (19) and Norest Hove, all of Beitbridge, are allegedly part of a group that orchestrated the disturbances. They were not asked to plead when they appeared before Beitbridge resident magistrate Ms Gloria Takundwa.
They were remanded in custody to today. This brings to 20 the number of people who have appeared in court over the disturbances that saw roads being barricaded, private properties damaged, shops looted and a Zimbabwe Revenue Authority warehouse burnt.
In the warehouse included 35 vehicles Zimra had impounded. The prosecutor, Mr Penson Chekeya, said the trio broke into a shop at Mashakada Business Centre and looted a bag with clothes, groceries and electrical gadgets and disappeared.
He said they also went on to barricade roads with stones and vandalised traffic lights around the town. The court further heard that Hove went to Red Star Wholesalers, which is now being used as a warehouse by Zimra, where he broke in and stole clothes.
It is alleged that after this, he set the warehouse on fire and disappeared with the stolen goods. He said the trio was arrested by police on Sunday morning. Masuka and Hove were found with the looted items from the Mashakada shop on Sunday.
Hove was also found in possession of 30 T-shirts stolen from Red Star during the illegal demonstration. By end of day yesterday the situation was calm. Anti-riot police were visible in the streets.
Online Reporter