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Thandeka Moyo Court Correspondent
POLICE in Bulawayo have arrested a dozen illegal immigrants from Ethiopia following a raid on a house in Emganwini suburb. Sintha Makoro, 24, Landabo Gezacho, 23, Marcos Fikiru, 24, Aeshm Negesh, 27, Darrilo Teshale, 25, Getahun Demeke, 29, Zerll Angela, 24, Gobana Esheku 25, Bosor Deigif, 27, Sedebo Simon, 26 and Dunago Desta, 22, entered the country without any form of identification and were being sheltered by locals, some of them cross-border transporters commonly known as omalayitsha.
Yesterday, the group — all men — were charged for entering the country illegally before Bulawayo magistrate Gladmore Mushove.
Prosecutors say all 12 come from Softah Village, Gesade Town, in Ethiopia.
The 12 were transported, fed and housed by Gabriel Murindagomo, Nkosilathi Dube, Bhekani Dliwayo and Nqobile Ndebele who are now facing charges of assisting people to enter or remain in Zimbabwe illegally.
The magistrate postponed the case to December 10, telling the twelve: “I need to make consultations before I deliberate on this case. There’s a need to consider getting an interpreter since the 12 accused men do not understand English. They will remain in custody.”
She also ordered the four who transported and sheltered them to return to court on Monday morning. Prosecutors say on Tuesday at about 1pm, the 12 were dropped by a South Africa-registered Toyota Quantum at Number 5847 Emganwini.
On Wednesday, police from Nkulumane Police Station received a tip-off and proceeded to the house where they rounded up the 12 with little resistance.
The police asked the accused men to identify themselves and they said they had no identity cards and that they were from Ethiopia.
Police then sought assistance from immigration officials who came and asked for travelling documents from the accused persons.
A Chronicle news crew later caught up with Emganwini residents and relatives of the four who assisted the Ethiopians at the courts.
One who spoke on condition of anonymity said the 12 men came from Harare and they were on transit to South Africa.
“I came here to see these men who were in our suburb. I heard they came from Harare and were picked up from Gweru by the four men who are cross border transporters popularly known as omalayitsha,” said the woman.
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