adminLynnia Ndlovu Sunday News Reporter
FOUR Zimbabweans allegedly took their thieving act across the border and stole 15 donkeys in Botswana, before driving them into the country but were tracked by Batswana men who caught up with them resulting in a confrontation that saw an ugly fight involving use of axes. The incident occured on Tuesday. Local villagers helped the Batswana resulting in the arrest of one of the thieves while the other three fled. Villagers handed Erick Noko (24) to the police resulting in his arrest.
Noko of Tshanyaugwe village appeared before Gwanda magistrate Ms Sheilla Nazombe on Thursday facing two counts of stock theft and illegal immigration. Prosecutor Mr Takunda Mafudze opposed bail for Noko when he appeared for initial remand.
Mr Mafudze stated that Noko was facing a serious offence which has a long term sentence if convicted in which he is likely to run away from the trial and he was likely to steal again. Ms Nazombwe remanded Noko in custody to 5 May for trial.
Allegations are that on Tuesday, Noko and three of his friends raided 15 donkeys from Botswana in Gobajango village and drove them to Zimbabwe. However, Botswana men followed them following the donkey tracks and caught up with them at Olphant village where Noko and his colleagues fought them with axes.
It is alleged that Olphant villagers arrived at the scene and rescued the Botswana men, but the other three men managed to escape. The 15 donkeys were all recovered.
derick.khumalo