Online Reporter
Dalyn Chigwizura, [email protected]
A 32-YEAR-OLD Bulawayo man has been fined US$300 after he was found illegally keeping a firearm and ammunition under his bed at his Cowdray Park home.
Merit Moyo was convicted on his own plea of guilty to possessing a firearm and ammunition without a firearm certificate or permit by Western Commonage magistrate Mr Jeconia Prince Ncube.
He was given until July 17 to pay the fine, failure of which he will serve 12 months in prison.
Prosecuting, Ms Cathrine Kuzu told the court that on June 9 detectives from the Criminal Investigations
Department (CID) Minerals, Flora and Fauna Unit in Bulawayo received a tip-off that Moyo was keeping a firearm and ammunition at his house.
Acting on the information, detectives proceeded to Moyo’s residence in Cowdray Park where they identified themselves and requested to conduct a search.
“A search was conducted in the presence of the accused person and detectives recovered a Fabrique National rifle bearing serial number 17064, a 303 rifle barrel with Nitrol proof markings and five rounds of ammunition,” said Ms Kuzu.
The firearm components and ammunition were wrapped in a white sack and hidden under Moyo’s bed in his bedroom.
Ms Kuzu said detectives asked Moyo to produce a firearm licence or permit authorising him to possess the weapon and ammunition. He failed to do so leading to his arrest. The firearm and ammunition were produced in court as exhibits.
