Online Reporter
Danisa Masuku [email protected]
A 43-year-old Bulawayo man convicted of unlawfully possessing and wearing camouflage clothing has been fined US$100.
Qhubekani Mkhize (43), of Nguboyenja suburb in Bulawayo, appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Mr Golden Muyambo on Friday facing charges of unlawful possession or wearing of camouflage uniform as defined in Section 32(2) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
He was ordered to pay a fine of US$100 by 15 June, failing which he will serve three months in prison.
In his defence, Mkhize told the court: “I got the camouflage in South Africa where I was working as a security guard. I did not know that it is an offence. I had to continue wearing it because I did not know that it is an offence.”
In aggravation, prosecutor Ms Sibusisiwe Sithole submitted: “Community members are discouraged from wearing camouflage because there are some members of the public who impersonate police officers and commit crimes such as extortion. The State prays for a deterrent sentence, which discourages members of the public from wearing camouflage.”
Ms Sithole told the court that on 25 May at around 3.30pm, detectives from the CID Minerals, Flora and Fauna Unit were conducting an operation code-named Iron Fist when they visited Oswell Mine, Lot 12 Umguza, on the outskirts of Bulawayo.
The court heard that detectives spotted Mkhize wearing a pair of camouflage trousers near the mine’s main gate.
The detectives approached him, identified themselves using police identity cards, and asked whether he had authority to possess the camouflage trousers.
Ms Sithole said Mkhize failed to produce any authorisation permitting him to possess or wear the camouflage clothing.
He was subsequently arrested and the camouflage trousers were seized as an exhibit.
