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Fungai Lupande Mashonaland Central Bureau
Four Harare men accused of attempting to smuggle 108 bales of second hand clothes, 61 bales of second hand shoes, 15 bales of skin lightening lotion and another 15 bales of java prints through Mukumbura border post have been denied bail.
The quartet appeared before Bindura magistrate Ms Nomgugu Sibanda facing smuggling charges.
The smuggled goods also include two bales of mixed lotions, a bale each of herbicides, medicine and plough spares.
The accused are Tinashe Ethan Rusike (33), Nyasha Hlomayi (26), Edwin Marovanidze (20) and Elliot Hlomayi (48).
The prosecutor Mrs Carol Mupazviriwo told the court that on November 4, the accused brought the goods into Zimbabwe through an undesignated entry point from Mozambique.
They transported the goods using a 15-tonne Scania truck registration number AFQ 8070.
On approaching a police roadblock at 40,5km-peg along the Harare-Mukumbura Road, the truck was flagged to stop.
Elliot, who had arrived at the roadblock driving a Toyota Aqua removed a traffic drum and signaled the truck driver, Rusike to pass urgently.
The police shot the right front tyre and the other accused disembarked and attempted to flee including Hlomayi.
They were apprehended and failed to produce a licence or any document of importing the consignment.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter