News / Regional
South African nationals arrested in Zimbabwe over military gear
07 Nov 2015 at 07:36hrs | Views
GWANDA police have arrested two South African nationals for allegedly possessing an army uniform, a firearm and a prohibited knife within Zimbabwe.
The duo, Oliver Lazare, 41, and Thandoxolo Busakwe, 30, both of Cape Town, were arrested on Tuesday in the mining town's centre.
Suspicious detectives took the South Africans to the police station and searched their vehicle leading to the discovery of the army uniform, the firearm and knife.
Lazare was fined $100 after he pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of an army uniform before magistrate Olivia Mashava Mashaire.
The camouflage uniform was forfeited to the State.
Lazare also pleaded guilty to possessing a prohibited knife and will be sentenced on Monday in a matter in which Takunda Mafudze represented the state.
Both Lazare and Busakwe pleaded not guilty to the charge of transporting firearms and ammunition within Zimbabwe.
They were both remanded in custody to Monday for trial on that charge.
Allegations are that on November 3 at around 1PM, Lazare and Busakwe were at the CABS lot in Gwanda Town.
Police officers who were on patrol became suspicious and asked to search's the duo's vehicle.
The vehicle was taken to Gwanda Police Station for a search.
"A Wolverine rifle fitted with a sniper telescopic sight was recovered from the vehicle. Police officers asked the accused persons to produce a certificate which authorised them to possess the rifle. They had none leading to their arrest," said prosecutor Moses Gondongwe.
During the search, a black prohibited knife was also recovered and the duo failed to produce a certificate authorising them to possess the knife.
The duo, Oliver Lazare, 41, and Thandoxolo Busakwe, 30, both of Cape Town, were arrested on Tuesday in the mining town's centre.
Suspicious detectives took the South Africans to the police station and searched their vehicle leading to the discovery of the army uniform, the firearm and knife.
Lazare was fined $100 after he pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of an army uniform before magistrate Olivia Mashava Mashaire.
The camouflage uniform was forfeited to the State.
Lazare also pleaded guilty to possessing a prohibited knife and will be sentenced on Monday in a matter in which Takunda Mafudze represented the state.
Both Lazare and Busakwe pleaded not guilty to the charge of transporting firearms and ammunition within Zimbabwe.
They were both remanded in custody to Monday for trial on that charge.
Allegations are that on November 3 at around 1PM, Lazare and Busakwe were at the CABS lot in Gwanda Town.
Police officers who were on patrol became suspicious and asked to search's the duo's vehicle.
The vehicle was taken to Gwanda Police Station for a search.
"A Wolverine rifle fitted with a sniper telescopic sight was recovered from the vehicle. Police officers asked the accused persons to produce a certificate which authorised them to possess the rifle. They had none leading to their arrest," said prosecutor Moses Gondongwe.
During the search, a black prohibited knife was also recovered and the duo failed to produce a certificate authorising them to possess the knife.
Source - chronicle
