Looting suspects’ trial date set

Beitbridge Bureau
The trial of 17 people accused of attacking police officers and security guards who tried to stop them from looting sugar from a haulage truck that had been involved in an accident has been set for April 26.
The truck failed to negotiate a curve and overturned spilling the sugar on the roadside.
The suspects denied the theft charges when they appeared before Beitbridge magistrate Mr Carrington Karidzagundi.
The accused are Tomani Chilenje (56), Joseph Nalana (55), Netsai Chauke (26), Rosina Ndou (51), Nyadzani Siziba (54), Irene Mudau (27), Matodzi Siziba (32), Steni Dube (18), Melody Moyo (19), Flora Choeni (20), Skhangele Dube (32), Lucia Ngwenya (18), Tatenda Sibanda (22), Annah Shumba (21), Alice Chatoni (25), Mary Moyo (25) and Fungai Banda (23) all from Tshapfutshe Village.
Prosecutor Mr Foster Abheki told the court that on October 20 last year, the complainant was travelling from South Africa to Zambia with a consignment of sugar.
When he approached Tshapfuche Village, he failed to negotiate a sharp curve resulting in the truck veering off the road and overturning.
Several tonnes of sugar got spilt onto the ground.
It is alleged the accused rushed to the scene and helped themselves to the sugar.
The driver, who was unhurt, called his employers who made a police report resulting in uniformed personnel from a nearby tollgate being deployed to the scene.
The mob allegedly stoned the police and security guards who were trying to stop them.
Police had to fire one shot into the air to disperse the crowd, the State says.
Police investigations led to the arrest of the 17.