News / National
MDC-T activist fined for smuggling fire arm
29 Jan 2015 at 23:22hrs | Views
A-33-YEAR-OLD MDC-T activist has been fined US$200 by a Beitbridge magistrate for smuggling a fire arm from South Africa.
Togarepi Zivanayi Mhetu of Harare was arrested on Wednesday aboard a First Class bus travelling from Johannesburg.
Mhetu is the MDC-T youth wing secretary for projects, labour and development in Harare Province.
He pleaded guilty of violating a section of the Customs and Excise Act before Beitbridge resident magistrate Miss Gloria Takundwa.
Mhetu would be jailed for a month if he fails to pay the fine.
The prosecutor Mr Jabulani Mberesi told the court that Mhetu visited South Africa through Beitbridge Border Post on January 26 and did not declare the firearm he was carrying.
He said Mhetu returned on January 28 aboard a First Class bus heading to Harare.
Mhetu had bought equipment for resale in Harare.
He went through all the immigration and customs formalities, but did not declare the Galesi pistol which was in one of his bags.
The fire arm, which was loaded with eight rounds of ammunition was discovered during a routine search of luggage by detectives from the Border Control Unit, resulting in his arrest.
Further searches led to the discovery of a photocopy of the fire arm certificate number 867620A, which expires on August 1, 2017.
It emerged during interrogations that he did not declare the weapon when he visited South Africa.
Togarepi Zivanayi Mhetu of Harare was arrested on Wednesday aboard a First Class bus travelling from Johannesburg.
Mhetu is the MDC-T youth wing secretary for projects, labour and development in Harare Province.
He pleaded guilty of violating a section of the Customs and Excise Act before Beitbridge resident magistrate Miss Gloria Takundwa.
Mhetu would be jailed for a month if he fails to pay the fine.
The prosecutor Mr Jabulani Mberesi told the court that Mhetu visited South Africa through Beitbridge Border Post on January 26 and did not declare the firearm he was carrying.
He said Mhetu returned on January 28 aboard a First Class bus heading to Harare.
Mhetu had bought equipment for resale in Harare.
He went through all the immigration and customs formalities, but did not declare the Galesi pistol which was in one of his bags.
The fire arm, which was loaded with eight rounds of ammunition was discovered during a routine search of luggage by detectives from the Border Control Unit, resulting in his arrest.
Further searches led to the discovery of a photocopy of the fire arm certificate number 867620A, which expires on August 1, 2017.
It emerged during interrogations that he did not declare the weapon when he visited South Africa.
Source - herald
