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Safari lodge owner accused of feeding fisherman to crocodiles

by Noah Pito
26 May 2013 at 07:42hrs | Views
Fourteen Kariba villagers - among them five women - who were arrested for allegedly besieging a safari lodge in the town for three days claiming the property owner had fed their colleague to crocodiles have been released from remand prison.

Karoi magistrate Mr Robson Finsin last week granted them US$80 bail each after being charged with public violence.

The villagers include Simon Kamata (61), Urayayi Tsikwa (57), Paul Kamata (31), Agnes Kamata (29), Ropafadzo Zivavose (25), Tendai Banda (33), Martha William (35), Elliot Matekenya (26), Rodgers Makochekanwa (53), Godhelp Sawaira (25), Enia Mahachi (22), Daniel William (23), Shingirai Muzengeza (30) and another whose name was not given.

Mr Finsin ordered them to reside at their respective addresses, to report at the Criminal Investigations Department (Karoi), not to venture within 100 metres of Gatshe-Gatshe Safari Lodge and not to interfere with the complainant or State witnesses until their case is finalised.

It is the State's case that on the night of April 22 this year, Ropafadzo Zivavose and Shelton Chidhakwa of Plot 13, Chitawapfeni Farm in Karoi, were found fishing in a prohibited area near Mr Raymond Townsend's Gatshe-Gatshe Safari Lodge. Mr Townsend is said to have apprehended and took them to his lodge. The two, however, allegedly escaped.

Three days later, Muzengeza, it is alleged, then led a group of 40 people to the lodge. The group allegedly demanded Chidhakwa's corpse from Mr Townsend and also threatened to assault him.

It is further alleged the group forced the lodge manager to give them food, beer, drinks, fuel and lodgings. The rest of the group members are still at large.

Source - sundaymail