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SMUGGLING 34 bales of secondhand clothing into the country from Mozambique through an undesignated entry point landed a Zimunya man in trouble after he was ordered to pay $200 fine last week. Tawanda Chiramba (39) who resides at Manyengavana Village under Chief Zimunya appeared before Mrs Sekai Chiundura and pleaded guilty to smuggling.Mr Fletcher Karombe prosecuted.
It was the State’s case that Chiramba was found in possession of 31 sealed bales of secondhand clothes and three bales of secondhand shoes which he had smuggled from Mozambique.
“Chiramba was found with 34 bales of secondhand clothing loaded in his Toyota vehicle at Macebin Boaderstreams, Vumba without proper documents allowing him to do so. Police detectives who were on deployment during Operation Anti-Smuggling spotted Chiramba and arrested him. The smuggled bales with a value of $3 250 were recovered,” said Mr Karombe.
Asked to explain why he opted to smuggle the clothes into Zimbabwe, Chiramba told the court that he wanted to make a living.
“I was trying to earn a living Your Worship. Things are tough at home,” said Chiramba.
Mrs Chiundura warned him to find legal ways of earning a living.
He was ordered him to pay $200 or serve an alternative four months imprisonment.
“Crime does not pay. Smuggling is a serious offence. You have to desist from that bad behaviour and find legal means of putting food on the table for your family,” said Mrs Chiundura.
Online Reporter