adminMasvingo Correspondent
A Masvingo magistrate has urged the country’s law enforcement authorities to scale up the fight against smuggling, which he said was a cancerous disease that continues to bleed the country’s economy.
Mr Peter Madhibha made the remarks while trying Nomore Masocha (25) of Runyararo West suburbs for smuggling a contraband of 15 000 counterfeit Eversharp pens from Mozambique into the country.
Masocha was fined $100 and if he fails to pay he will be jailed for 30 days.
His contraband was forfeited to the State.
He was arrested on July 7 in the city during a police blitz, while selling his counterfeit pens near a local shop.
The exercise was necessitated by the influx of counterfeit products on the local market.
Handing down the sentence, Mr Madhibha said smuggling was affecting Government’s thrust to rebuild the economy.
“Smuggling is just cancerous to the country’s economic growth trajectory.
“It should be condemned in the strongest terms,” he said.
Prosecuting, Mr Edmond Mapope told the court that the accused was nabbed by the police during the blitz on unregistered goods or those with forged trademarks.
He said the accused was arrested at OK Departmental Stores, where he was also selling 30 dispensers worth $450.
He said Masocha led the police to one of the suppliers, Talent Ushe based in Mucheke A who was found in possession of 118 dispensers worth $1 770.
He is expected to stand trial soon.
Online Reporter