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Tendai Gukutikwa Weekender Correspondent—
POLICE have seized over two tonnes of fertiliser that were being smuggled into the country from Mozambique via an illegal entry point.
Kelvin Marekera (22) has since appeared before Mutare magistrate, Mr Poterai Gwezhira facing smuggling charges.
His other alleged accomplices fled following the police raid leaving the suspect with the contraband.
Marekera was apprehended with 1, 5 tonnes of fertiliser following the ambush at an illegal entry point at the Zimbabwe National Army School of Education near Marymount Teachers’ College.
Mr Fletcher Karombe prosecuted.
Allegations were that on January 25 at around midnight, police officers arrested Marekera who was among a group of people smuggling fertiliser into the country.
“When police approached them, they fled leaving Marekera with the fertiliser. He was subsequently apprehended,” said Mr Karombe.
In mitigation, Marekera begged for the court’s forgiveness. He said only two of the 30 bags belonged to him and that the rest belonged to his accomplices who fled after the police raid.
He was ordered to pay $40 fine or risk 70 days imprisonment.
In an unrelated incident and on the same date, a Mutare woman was caught smuggling 10 bags of fertiliser into the country from Mozambique.
Rebecca Chivase (34) pleaded guilty to smuggling when she appeared before Mr Gwezhira. She was also caught smuggling140 litres of petrol.
The court ordered her to pay $150 fine or risk three months imprisonment.
Online Reporter