In
these three (3) matters, the accused persons were intercepted at roadblocks
mounted by the police in Beatrice on 19 and 20 October 2012 while carrying
firewood they had fetched at farms in the area. In the first case, of Juliet
Chikandiwa and 2 others, they had loaded 3 codes of firewood onto a ...
In
these three (3) matters, the accused persons were intercepted at roadblocks
mounted by the police in Beatrice on 19 and 20 October 2012 while carrying
firewood they had fetched at farms in the area. In the first case, of Juliet
Chikandiwa and 2 others, they had loaded 3 codes of firewood onto a Mazda T35
truck registration number AAP 6474. In the second, of Muranganwa Zinyana and 2
others, they had loaded 7 codes onto an unspecified 8 tonne truck registration
number ABY 6641 while in the third case, of Brodrick Tasukwa and another, they
were carrying firewood in an unspecified 2,5 tonne truck registration number
ACL 4240.
They
were arraigned before a Provincial Magistrate at Chitungwiza on a charge of
contravening section 78(1)(a) of the Forest Act [Chapter 19:05].
They
pleaded guilty….,.
On
19 October 2012, Juliet Chikandiwa, Xavier Muwalo and John Kutsira, all of whom
are not employed, drove to Mara Farm, Beatrice in a Mazda T35 truck
registration number AAP 6474. Whilst there, they harvested firewood which they
loaded onto the vehicle without authority. They were making their way back to
Harare at about 0045 hours when they were intercepted at a police road block at
the 20km peg along the Harare-Masvingo road leading to their arrest as they had
no permit to remove the firewood.
The
value of the firewood was not ascertained.
When
they were brought before the magistrate they pleaded guilty and sentenced…,
although the value of the T35 truck was not established. On the same date,
Brodrick Tasukwa, Lovemore Chimhungwe and 3 others, who pleaded not guilty,
drove a 2,5 tonne truck registration number ACL4240 to Plot 52 Charter Estate,
Featherstone where they loaded firewood. They were on their way back to Harare
along the Harare-Masvingo Road when they were intercepted at a police road block
mounted at the 54km peg. On being found without a permit they were duly
arrested.
Again,
the value of the firewood was not established neither was the value of the 2,5
tonne truck but they were convicted on their own pleas of guilty and sentenced…,.
On 20 October 2012, Muranganwa Zinyana, Caleb
Rupere and Chombe January, who had earlier driven in an 8 tonne truck
registration number ABY6641 to Featherstone and loaded firewood onto the truck,
were also intercepted at 0130 hours at a police road block mounted at the 20km
peg along Harare-Masvingo Road. When they failed to produce a permit to remove
firewood they were arrested. Although the values of both the firewood and
vehicle were not ascertained, they were convicted on their pleas of guilty and sentenced…,.
