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Thupeyo Muleya, [email protected]
TWO men from the Ndambe area in Beitbridge District on Thursday appeared in court on charges of public violence for allegedly disrupting operations at a Schweppes-run citrus farm in Shobi Block.
Vigilance Rich Baloyi (35) and King Welly Nguluvhe (25) appeared before Beitbridge resident magistrate, Mr Takudzwa Gwazemba.
The pair allegedly stormed Shobi Block Farm where they violently evicted workers, displaced 122 cattle, and destroyed tents and cattle pens.
They were remanded out of custody to April 24 on $300 000 bail each.
Prosecutor, Mr Ronald Mugwagwa said on March 20 at around 4pm, Baloyi and Nguluvhe loaded 20 people into their Toyota Hiace truck at Toporo Business Centre.
They connived with three other drivers still at large and drove to Shobi Block subdivision 1 farm which was allocated to Beitbridge Juicing Schweppes Sunrise by the Government in 2019.
“The two accused persons, along with over 100 others, violently invaded the farm.
“They confronted four workers at the farm whom they accused of illegally occupying their grazing lands,” said Mr Mugwagwa.
The court heard that the accused persons dismantled tents and removed some poles from the cattle pens before setting them on fire.
They also forcibly drove away the four farm workers and 122 cattle for a distance of about 5km and ordered them to return to the Beitbridge Juicing plant.
The matter was reported to the police leading to the arrest of Baloyi and Nguluvhe. — @tupeyo.
Online Reporter