adminSimon Demhe, a truck driver at Astra Transport in Bulawayo, his manager Farai Muchenje, Appronalise Mupakaviri of LA Cargo and Tiki Tarwirei, a clearing agent, are accused of contravening sections of the Water Act and the Environmental Management Act.
Magistrate Mr Hoseah Mujaya on Monday set the judgment date after the defence closed its case.
The four were put on their defence after their application for discharge at the close of the State case was dismissed.Through their lawyer Mr Nicholas Chikono, the quartet had applied for acquittal arguing that they had no case to answer.
However, prosecutor Mr Michael Reza opposed the application arguing that the State had proved a prima-facie case against the four. The State alleged that on July 16 last year Demhe left Beira, Mozambique, for Zimbabwe with a CureChem Overseas (Pvt) Ltd consignment of 19 580kg of sodium cyanide, a poisonous chemical.
He said the consignment was cleared into Zimbabwe by Zimra only at Forbes Border Post. The cyanide was eventually delivered to Morton Jaffray water treatment plant.
Online Reporter