Online Reporter
Tsenulo Moyo
FIVE men have appeared in court after being arrested for illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition.
Vumani Msipha (30), Qhawe Mabhena (43), Cornelius Chigara (25), Nkosilomusa Dube (26), and Mongameli Moyo (25) were arrested at a tollgate along the Beitbridge-Gwanda Road.
They have since appeared before Bulawayo regional magistrate Dambudzo Malunga, facing charges of possessing a firearm and ammunition without a certificate.
They were not asked to plead, and the matter was remanded to 24 February 2025, for trial.
The delay occurred after one of the accused became ill and had not yet received state papers.
The court heard that on 21 November 2024, detectives from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Homicide, Bulawayo, intercepted a dark blue Nissan Note, registration number AFZ 4527, at a tollgate along the Beitbridge-Gwanda Road.
The vehicle was being used by the accused persons. During a search of the vehicle, detectives found a pistol with an erased make and serial number under the back seat.
The recovered firearm was loaded with a magazine containing four 32 calibre live rounds.
Detectives also conducted body searches on all the accused. One of them was found in possession of three additional 32 calibre live rounds of ammunition, which were in the magazine of the recovered pistol.
The accused persons were asked to produce a firearm certificate authorising them to possess the firearm and ammunition, but they failed to do so, leading to their arrest.
