Machete-wielding artisanal miners belonging to the “Ziga
clan”, who allegedly murdered a police officer in December last year at
Goodhope Mine in Kadoma, have been denied bail pending trial at the High Court.
Justice Amy Tsanga denied seven of alleged machete
attackers bail but granted bail to one gang member who is a minor. The judge
said the accused were of no fixed abode and if released, were a potential
danger to society and their counterparts remain at large.
“. . . weapons were recovered from two others. Moreover,
applicants are said not be permanently resident at the given address. It would
not be in the interest of justice to release them on bail when they have
tenuous ties to the place of residence.’
“None were said to have any assets. Furthermore, other
co-accused are still at large,” she said.
Justice Tsanga said the accused could not be released since
police needed one more month to complete preliminary investigations.
“Investigations are midway and are said to require at least
30 more days. It is proper that in view of the numbers involved, that the
police be given reasonable opportunity to complete all their preliminary
investigations. In the circumstances, the application for bail pending trial is
dismissed,” ruled Justice Tsanga.
The accused are Lyton Tshuma, Obvious Mawire,Tonderai
Musasa, Richwell Tshuma, Bornlight Mukute, Taurai Munetsi, Tinashe Dembo and a
minor. They are facing murder and attempted murder charges.
The State alleges that the accused invaded Good Hope Mine
on December 28 and fought running battles with police.
It is further alleged that they acted in common purpose and
murdered Constable Wonder Hokoyo and attempted to murder Constable Gabus
Kamhuka in the attack.
Evidence from the investigating officer, Trust Chogoda,
shows that the accused arrived at the mine in two kombis and numbered about 35,
armed with knives, knobkerries and machetes.
It is also alleged that they started attacking legal miners
at Goodhope Mine to pave way for their violent takeover.
Police fired at their attackers before they ran out of ammunition
resulting in the fatal attack on Cst Hokoyo, and his colleague, Cst Kamhuka,
who is still hospitalised.
Machetes were subsequently recovered from Munetsi and
Dembo.
In opposing he bail application, the State relied on
evidence from the investigating officer, which suggested that the accused were
not suitable candidates for bail as they were likely to commit further offences
and had the potential to abscond.
Meanwhile, police in Kadoma have launched a manhunt for
five other members of the notorious “Ziga clan” who are wanted for murder,
robbery and assault, writes Heather Charema.
The “clan” members are prime suspects in the recent murder
of Cst Hokoyo at Goodhope Mine in Battlefields, Kadoma.
Speaking to The Herald this week, Officer-in-Charge Kadoma
CID Detective Chief Inspector Augustine Nhete appealed to the members of the
public to assist with information on the whereabouts of the suspects.
“The following machete-wielding gang members of the ‘Ziga
clan’ are at large and are wanted by the Criminal Investigations Department in
Kadoma. The five are: Vusa Tshuma, Givemore Tshuma, Anywhere Nkomeni who is
commonly known as Alias Dhinde, Talent who is also known as Alias Kwadez,” he
said.
“Anyone with information on their whereabouts or their last
known address should avail it at CID Kadoma through our communications
department or call our hotline on 0682122427 as soon as possible. We call on
the public to assist us by availing useful information that can assist us in
the investigations of all machete related crimes.”
Officer Commanding CID Kadoma, Manyame and Chegutu
districts Chief Superintendent Obert Ngirazi said police will hunt down all
machete gangs.
“Police are on high alert and we would like to tell the
members of the machete wielding gangs that their days are numbered. We will not
hesitate to arrest and bring the culprits to book,” he said. Herald
0 comments:
Post a Comment