Mozambicans in court for attempted murder

George Maponga in MASVINGO
TWO Mozambican men have appeared before the Masvingo Magistrates’ Court facing attempted murder charges after they allegedly shot and seriously injured a Chiredzi farmer who was among a group of villagers trying to stop them from stealing their cattle. Thomas Ingwani (35) and Eric Mazive (25) both of Sami Dingi village in the Chikwalakwala area of Mozambique are also facing charges of robbery after they drove away the cattle at gunpoint from a Chiredzi herdboy before attempting to cross into Mozambique through the Gonarezhou National Park.

The pair denied the charges when they appeared before regional magistrate Mrs Judith Zuyu yesterday facing attempted murder and robbery charges.

They argued that they were wrongly implicated after they sneaked into Gonarezhou National Park on a hunting mission.
The two further argued that the AK47 rifle and rounds of ammunition recovered by police and game rangers in Gonarezhou National Park did not belong to them. They were remanded in custody to tomorrow for continuation of trial.

The State is expected to hear evidence from five witnesses.
Prosecutor Ms Mukai Mutume is alleging that on November 3 last year the pair allegedly confronted a teenage herdboy Last Chikutu and pointed an AK47 rifle loaded with 12 rounds of ammunition at him. This happened at the Papazela grazing village in Sengwe communal lands, Chiredzi. They allegedly proceeded to drive away eight cattle towards Mozambique but Last rushed to the village where he alerted his elders.

A group of villagers then pursued the accused and caught up with them deep in the Gonarezhou National Park.
They opened fire at the villagers injuring a cattle farmer, Mr Silas Kavalani, whom they shot on the thigh.

They were arrested a few days later following a combined operation by Chiredzi police and rangers from the Parks and Wildlife Management Authority.

The accused were positively identified by villagers during an identification parade at Chiredzi police station.

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