Chronicle Editor
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, [email protected]
SUSPECTED smugglers fled from security agents manning the border between Zimbabwe and Botswana leaving behind a stolen car loaded with smuggled goods after the vehicle got stuck in the mud in Ramokgwebana River near Madabe area in Mangwe district.
Police have since launched a manhunt for the suspects.
National police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident which occurred on Saturday at around 2am.
“Police in Matabeleland South last Saturday intercepted and retrieved a stolen vehicle from Botswana after it got stuck in Ramokgwebana River in the Madabe area,” he said.
Acting on a tip-off, police in Plumtree went to the scene of the crime and recovered a black unregistered Honda Fit vehicle in Madabe Area, Plumtree.
“Investigations carried out established that two unknown male suspects smuggled the motor vehicle from Botswana to Zimbabwe through an undesignated crossing point,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.
He said the smugglers tried to use corrugated iron roofing sheets as a makeshift bridge to cross the river before the vehicle got stuck in the mud.
“The suspects sought assistance from local villagers to remove the vehicle, but they failed. Members of the public alerted the police and upon arrival at the scene, the suspects fled,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.
Police searched the abandoned car and recovered 48 queen-size bed sheets, 20 fleece blankets and 10 jackets which were also smuggled from Botswana.
“Investigations are underway and we are appealing to members of the public with information that could lead to the arrest of the suspects to contact us. As police, we continue to be on the alert for smuggling cases, and we have increased our presence along border lines,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.
“We urge members of the public to work with the police in the fight to end crime. Unfortunately, we have some people who choose to withhold information.”
The smuggling of vehicles into the country through undesignated crossing points is rife, particularly along the Limpopo River with the Government losing millions in potential revenue.
Last year in November, police smashed a well-orchestrated smuggling syndicate at Plumtree Border Post and recovered five smuggled Honda Fit vehicles, including an assortment of goods illegally brought into the country from Botswana.
During the year in October, South Africa’s specialised police investigations unit, the Hawks, re-arrested a 28-year-old man suspected to be the leader of a syndicate behind the smuggling of luxury vehicles into Zimbabwe.
Raymond Sibusiso Tshabalala led a team that stole vehicles in South Africa and smuggled them into Zimbabwe over or through the Limpopo River. Much of the time the Limpopo has very low surface flows, it is possible to use donkeys to drag cars across the sand and small streams.
In some instances, the vehicles are eventually taken to Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania and Mozambique.–@DubeMatutu
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter