Online Reporter
Peter Matika, [email protected]
MORE than 60 murder cases and the infamous 2018 US$1 million gold heist in Plumtree are set for hearing when the High Court resumes its third term today (Monday).
The gold case, which drew nationwide attention, involved nine suspects, among them a senior magistrate, a lawyer, a prosecutor and senior police officers.
According to court papers, on July 7, 2018, gold weighing 28kg and valued at US$970 000 was stolen from the armoury at Plumtree Police Station following unlawful entry. The theft was only discovered a week later when Chief Inspector Mangena, reporting for duty, noticed that two FN rifles booked in the charge office were missing from the armoury.
Police later intercepted part of the gold, leading to the arrest of Jefat Chaganda, who was found in unlawful possession of 14kg of the stolen loot while attempting to smuggle it into Botswana. He was arrested aboard a Botswana-bound train, although his accomplice, Dingumuzi Ncube, managed to escape. The recovered gold was seized by the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) and handed back to police in Plumtree.
It is alleged that the nine accused hatched a scheme to reclaim the impounded gold through fraudulent means. When Chaganda was brought before the courts on charges of unlawful possession and smuggling, Ncube allegedly enlisted the help of one Vusumuzi Sayi, who then contacted Kailos Moyo to secure the services of Lovemore Sibanda.
Sibanda’s Qalo Syndicate documents were fraudulently used in court to claim ownership of the seized gold.
Detective Assistant Inspector Ladislous Tinacho, then with the ZRP Minerals and Border Control Unit, allegedly contacted lawyer Admire Rubaya to represent Chaganda. Rubaya is allegedly to have roped in regional magistrate Timeon Tavengwa Makunde and prosecutor Stanley Chinyanganya to advance the scheme. However, Rubaya and Makunde have since been cleared of the gold theft charge by the Supreme Court.
The suspects linked to the case, Ginger Vhiyano, Chaganda, Tyson Ruvando and Ncube are set to appear in court in November for trial.
Another high-profile matter on the court roll involves Tanzanian national Suleiman Amour, who was arrested last year after he was caught with crystal meth worth nearly US$1 million. Amour was intercepted at a roadblock along the Bulawayo-Plumtree Road while travelling in a haulage truck.
Police discovered 192kg of methamphetamine concealed in lunch boxes hidden inside false compartments of the trailer. Two of his accomplices are still at large. Preliminary tests confirmed the substance was methamphetamine with a street value of US$987 000.
Court records reveal Amour had entered Zimbabwe through Mozambique and was en route to South Africa when he was apprehended. He now faces charges of unlawful possession of specially restricted substances.
Also scheduled for hearing is the case of war veteran Zephaniah Matiwaza (73) of Rosebank Farm in Umguza, who is accused of faking the death of a South Africa-based businessman, Mr Colin Ian Venables, to illegally seize his farm.
Court papers show that Matiwaza allegedly entered into an agreement with Mr Venables to buy Roslee Farm for US$25 000, paying a US$10 000 deposit through Venables’ lawyers, Coughlan and Welsh. The deal was conditional on acquiring a certificate of no present interest by August 30, 2009. After failing to pay the outstanding balance, the agreement was cancelled.
Despite this, Matiwaza is alleged to have fraudulently transferred the farm into his name under deed of transfer 71/2019, claiming Venables had died.
In December 2015, businessman Mr Dumisani Sibanda legally purchased the same property and obtained the necessary certificate from the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development. This prompted Matiwaza to launch a High Court challenge (HC1113/18), during which he allegedly submitted a false sworn statement declaring Venables deceased. Mr Venables, through his agent Mr Sege Rene Finch, later applied for rescission of the fraudulently obtained order, exposing Matiwaza’s alleged deception.
Two men from Mambale in Umzingwane District — Elliot Ncube (31) and Unity Ndlovu (27) — are also expected to stand trial for allegedly killing their neighbour, German Nleya, in August 2016. The pair allegedly beat him to death after accusing him of theft, before burning the body and hiding the remains in a cave.
