adminKaroi magistrate Mr Obedience Matare slapped Hillary Munuwa (33) of Karoi and Proud Nhema (25) of Baghdad Chirundu with a US$300 fine (or nine months in jail) each. However, six months of the sentence were suspended on condition they do not commit a related offence in the next five years. Rashmore Katikarengwa (25) also of Baghdad was fined US$150 or five months in prison while Lazarus Phiri (29) and Gideon Tembo (40) — the Zambian haulage truck crew, were each fined US$400 or 10 months in jail.
The duo had six months of the custodial sentence conditionally suspended for five years. On June 5 this year Phiri and Tembo who are employed by African Truck Logistics as driver and assistant, loaded 290 bales of tobacco belonging to Japan Tobacco International Company of Zambia on to their Scania truck for delivery to Zimbabwe Leaf Tobacco (ZLT) in Harare. On arrival at Chirundu One Stop Border Post on June 10, the two connived with Nhema and Katikarengwa to sell 15 bales at a Mashonaland Tobacco Company depot in Karoi.
The four the proceeded to Karoi where they met Munuwa who promised to sell the loot at MTC using the grower’s number of a relative contracted by the same company. The five acting in common purpose then offloaded the 15 bales at Munuwa’s premises — Swedish Co-operative Centre, Karoi. Katikarengwa, Phiri and Tembo later proceeded to Harare the same day leaving behind Nhema and Munuwa to sort out the logistics of the sale.
Online Reporter