Language barrier halts Ethiopians’ trial

Midlands Bureau Chief
KWEKWE magistrate Taurai Manwere has further remanded 23 illegal Ethiopian immigrants to Friday while the State hunts for a Swahili interpreter. The trial of the illegal immigrants led by Mulumen Mentose Kelbore, 35, failed to kick off yesterday because of a language barrier.

“The accused are remanded to March 18 in custody. The State should have made arrangements for an interpreter,” said Manwere.

Prosecuting, Moreblessing Gadze told the court that on a date unknown but during the month of February this year, Kelbore and 22 of his countrymen entered Zimbabwe at an undesignated place which is not a port of entry en route to South Africa.

“On March 1, and at a bushy area near one Air Defence Regiment Camp in Redcliff, officers Madya, Nyakwima and Chiunza from the Zimbabwe National Army who were on patrol, came across the accused persons whilst asleep in a bushy area near the regiment camp,” said Gadze.

Gadze said the three soldiers approached the 23 men and they interviewed and searched them.

The court heard they discovered that they were Ethiopians who had entered the country illegally.

“Of the 23, six of them had their passports on them which were last stamped at Kenya Immigration Border Office on February 1.”

A report was made to the police leading to their arrest.