adminThe suspects, who have a long-standing dispute with Cde Mohadi over some plots adjacent to his farm, were arrested at the farm on Saturday afternoon.
Given Mbedzi, his mother Philani Ndou, Soforia Ndou, Jameson Mbedzi and Alifa Mbedzi, who are plotholders at Jopembe Lot 9, are accused of having tampered with locks which at one of the structures at the Minister’s farm.
They are all being charged with malicious damage to property. Their trial failed to take off at the Beitbridge magistrates’ court yesterday and was referred to the Gwanda provincial magistrates’ courts on the instruction of Matabeleland South area prosecutor, Mr Blessing Gundani.
The group was further detained at Beitbridge main police station pending transfer to Gwanda for trial today.
Through their lawyers, Messrs Kucaca Phulu and Matshobana Ncube of Phulu and Ncube Legal Practitioners, the suspects are denying the charges.
They are arguing that the charges are an attempt to force them out of their plots.
The lawyers confirmed yesterday that they had been briefed by their clients that they had a long-standing dispute with the minister over the ownership of a farm.
Two offer letters were issued to both parties for the same plot; Given Mbedzi has a letter issued in 2003 while Mohadi’s son, Campbell Junior, was issued with a letter in 2009.
The minister’s son was reportedly issued the plot after Mbedzi allegedly abandoned it.
Philemon Marubini Ndou, Ignatius Ncube and Knowledge Muleya, who are employees of GivenMbedzi, are accused of cutting a 5km stretch of fence which the Minister had reportedly erected at his farm.
They are out on $30 bail each and will jointly appear with the rest of the group at the Gwanda magistrates’ court today.
Soforia Ndou is also facing charges of stock theft, after she is alleged to have cut a piece of fence from the same farm which resulted in several head of cattle straying and these are still unaccounted for.
Online Reporter