Online Reporter
Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau
THE trial of three men accused of stealing a vehicle in South Africa, smuggling it into Zimbabwe and stripping it for parts in Beitbridge has been set for June 12 at the Beitbridge Regional Magistrates’ Court.
Bester Moyo, Admit Moyo and Freddy Mugabe are facing charges related to the theft and smuggling of a Ford Ranger double cab, which was stolen in Boksburg, South Africa, and brought into Zimbabwe via an illegal crossing along the Limpopo River. A fourth suspect is still on the run.
The trio allegedly stripped the vehicle in Tshitulipasi Village, located along a patrol road that runs about 20km parallel to the Zimbabwe-South Africa border, and then set the shell on fire in an attempt to destroy evidence.
They were arrested on April 18, while trying to sell some of the stripped parts in Beitbridge town.
The three accused appeared before Beitbridge regional magistrate, Ms Charity Maphosa.
They were each granted US$150 bail. As for the bail conditions, the trio was ordered to report to their nearest police stations every Friday until the matter is finalised.
The prosecutor, Mr Willbrought Muleya, told the court that the accused had planned the theft earlier this year and executed it on March 28, smuggling the vehicle through an illegal crossing point.
Once inside Zimbabwe, the suspects allegedly hid the vehicle in a bushy area, where they stripped it of various accessories and used a donkey-drawn cart to transport the parts to a hideout.
Their attempt to offload the stolen parts led to their arrest after police caught them in the act while selling the vehicle’s gearbox.
Further investigations led to the recovery of the burnt shell of the vehicle in Tshitulipasi and other stripped accessories.
The total value of the stolen vehicle is yet to be determined.
Beitbridge Border Post has long been a hotspot for cross-border smuggling due to its proximity to South Africa and porous stretches of the Limpopo River.
Smugglers often exploit unofficial entry points to move stolen vehicles, contraband goods, and undocumented migrants.
Authorities have repeatedly expressed concern over increasing cases of vehicle smuggling, with syndicates using rural tracks and bush paths to evade detection.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), in collaboration with South African counterparts, continues to conduct joint operations to crack down on organised vehicle theft and cross-border smuggling networks.
