News / Local
Illegal immigrants languish in prison
23 Dec 2013 at 02:28hrs | Views
TWELVE illegal immigrants from Ethiopia who made headlines a few weeks ago after a house raid in Emganwini in Bulawayo continue to languish in remand prison as efforts to get an interpreter continue.
Bulawayo magistrate Gladmore Mushove remanded them in custody to tomorrow as the State could not provide an interpreter.
No interpreter has been found to help the courts communciate with the Ethiopians. Only one of them understands English and there is a likelihood that they will spend Christmas in the cells.
Meanwhile, magistrate Mushove convicted and fined the four "Good Samaritans" who had pleaded not guilty to assisting any person to enter or remain or depart from Zimbabwe.
Gabriel Murindagomo, Nkosilathi Dube, Bhekani Dliwayo and Nqobile Ndebele were fined $250 each or 45 days imprisonment.
Police arrested the dozen illegal immigrants following a raid at a house in Emganwini on December 5.
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.
Bulawayo magistrate Gladmore Mushove remanded them in custody to tomorrow as the State could not provide an interpreter.
No interpreter has been found to help the courts communciate with the Ethiopians. Only one of them understands English and there is a likelihood that they will spend Christmas in the cells.
Meanwhile, magistrate Mushove convicted and fined the four "Good Samaritans" who had pleaded not guilty to assisting any person to enter or remain or depart from Zimbabwe.
Gabriel Murindagomo, Nkosilathi Dube, Bhekani Dliwayo and Nqobile Ndebele were fined $250 each or 45 days imprisonment.
Police arrested the dozen illegal immigrants following a raid at a house in Emganwini on December 5.
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.
Source - Chronicle
