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Cletus Mushanawani Mutare Bureau
A BRITISH national who was among 21 foreigners who were arrested for trespassing into the protected area of Chiadzwa last Friday was on Saturday detained awaiting depor- tation. Rhiain Moses (21) was convicted on her own guilty plea by Mutare magistrate Mr Lazarus Murendo for contravening Section 29 of the Immigration Act for overstaying in the country by 52 days.

She was ordered to pay a fine of $100 and was also detained awaiting deportation. Moses was also ordered to pay $100 together with her colleagues, among them activist Farai Maguwu, for trespassing into Chiadzwa where they had an unsanctioned gathering under the banner of Operation Hakudzokwi commemorations. The event was organised by a group calling itself the Bocha Diamond Community Trust and Maguwu’s Centre for Natural Governance.

Mr Brighton Shamhuyarira prosecuted, while Mr Passmore Nyakureba, Mr Blessing Nyamaropa, Mr David Tandiri and Ms Roseline Hanzi appeared for the accused. The convicted foreigners include Rhiain Moses, Railwedzha Maena Thabo (31), Bohale Milicent Busisiwe (32), Tembo Roida Musonda (60), Susan Chilala (43), Decastro Amedee Peret Rodrigo (62), Docus Kapwaya (67), Chance Mashudu (49), Pinky Langa (28), Motloung Sabatini (27), Hubert Mduduzi Mbokane (45), Dunezweni Sekwaneke Dhlamini (48), John Bosco Okwong Ocyer (48), Bongani Tsela (45), Julia Maria Andrade Gomes (36), Viera Dasilva Jarbas (29), Kithel Gladys Mongare(30), Cabangile Monica Dlamini (52), Peace Mathew Hlabane (47), Bernadette Malamba (66) and Nokuthula Thuli Msibi (34).

The drivers – Kudakwashe Machawira (26) and Elijah Chomusora (32) – were cautioned and discharged. Mr Shamuyarira said on November 10, Bocha Diamonds Community Trust held a meeting at Mupanga Village, Mukwada, which is located in the Chiadzwa diamond fields.

“Lovemore Mukwada convened the meeting to gather the community’s opinion on the impact of mining and come up with a petition to demand development in the area using proceeds from the diamonds. The accused persons attended the meeting. On the same day, Maguwu was approached by the police and was asked to produce a pass or permit since he was in a protected area. When Maguwu failed to produce the pass or permit, this led to the verification of documents for the other accused persons. All the accused persons failed to produce passes and permits. They were subsequently arrested and taken to CID offices in Mutare for further investigations,” said Mr Shamu- yarira.