Scramble for sugar case postponed

policemen and security guards during a scramble for sugar that spilled from a haulage truck after an accident has been postponed to June 13 for continuation of trial.
The 17 suspects were part of a mob that descended on the truck that overturned near Tshapfutshe Village along the Beitbridge-Masvingo Road.
The Zambia-bound truck overturned after the driver failed to negotiate a sharp curve. The suspects, who have denied the charges, appeared before Beitbridge magistrate Mr Carrington Karidzagundi.
They were facing theft charges and have all been remanded out of custody.
The suspects 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.
The State led by prosecutor Mr Foster Abheki, alleges that on October 20 last year, the haulage truck driver was travelling from South Africa to Zambia through Zimbabwe. The truck was carrying a consignment of sugar. The driver failed to negotiate a sharp curve and the truck veered off the road before overturning.
The accident saw tonnes of sugar being spilled on the road. Mr Abheki told the court that villagers rushed to the scene and helped themselves to the sugar.
The driver raised alarm with his superiors who deployed security guards at the accident scene. The security guards were, however, met with fierce resistance from the mob that attacked them with some stones. They were forced to enlist the services of police officers manning a tollgate near the accident scene.
Mr Abheki said the undeterred villagers continued their attack on the security guards and police officers.
One of the police officers, Mr Abheki told the court, he fired a single shot into the air to disperse the crowd.
He said the villagers disappeared with the police managing to apprehend 17 of them while others were still at large.