TWO men accused of taking a firearm to President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s groundbreaking ceremony at Xintai Resources Palm River Industrial Park in Beitbridge were set free after a ballistics report stated that the weapon in question was not a firearm.
Alexander Simbarashe Mutendera (40) and Emmanuel Nyamarebvu (50), employed by the Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company, were all smiles after Beitbridge resident magistrate Takudzwa Gwazemba granted the defence application for refusals of further remand.
The pair was charged with possession of a firearm without a licence on their initial appearance when the State sought to have the “firearm” certified by experts.
Mutendera and Nyamarebvu, out on bail, heaved a sigh of relief when their lawyer Jabulani Mberesi of Tavenhave and Machingauta successfully argued that keeping them on remand was against the interests of justice considering that the ballistics report showed the “firearm” was not a real gun.
“There interests of justice would not be served if my clients are kept on remand when the State initially said it wanted to verify if the item in question is indeed a gun which it is not according to an expert report before the honourable court,” Mberesi said in his successful application.
Gwazemba waved down an attempt by prosecutor Tawanda Chigavazira to alter the charge.
The Forencics Ballistics report from the Zimbabwe Republic Police for the case referenced Beitbridge Rural CR 48133/2025 of DR 1002/ in its last line categorically stated the item in question was not a firearm.
“Further examination of exhibit showed that it is not a firearm, according to the Firearms Act,” read part of the report signed by one Detective Inspector F Gundumure, a firearms identification officer.
- Mr President, you missed the opportunity to be the veritable voice of conscience
- ED to commission new-look border post
- Zanu PF ready for congress
- EU slams Zim over delayed reforms
Keep Reading
On February 24 this year, Mutendera, Nyamarebvu, Sugar Chagonda and Douglas Zimbango were guests at the ground-breaking function officiated by Mnangagwa at the Xintai Palm River Metallurgical and Energy Industrial Park in Beitbridge.
At the security checkpoint, the firearm, which is a Blow F92 pistol, without a serial number, was discovered under the driver’s front seat.
