FIFTEEN Ethiopian illegal immigrants who were recently
arrested while hiding at a homestead in Swisha, Gwanda have been released from
prison pending deportation.
Police raided their hideout, a homestead in Mawane One
Village on March 31 at around 1AM and detained them. A Zimbabwean man who was assisting them who
was only identified as Bheki escaped.
The Ethiopians were placed on remand at the Gwanda Prison
after they were tested for Covid-19 and results came out negative. The Ethiopians appeared before Gwanda Provincial
Magistrate, Ms Charity Maphosa facing a charge of contravening the Immigration
Act.
Charges against them were withdrawn before plea.
Prosecuting, Mr Mncedisi Dube said the State was
withdrawing charges as the matter will proceed in terms of Section (8)(1) of
the Immigration Act. He said the accused persons will be deported back to
Ethiopia.
According to State papers, the group was intercepted
following a tip off from community members.
The group entered the country through an unknown port of
entry without valid travelling documents on an unknown date between March 1 and
March 25.
“On 30 March at around 8PM police received information that
there was a group of Ethiopian illegal immigrants who were being kept at a
homestead in Mawane One in Gwanda.
“Police officers stationed at Guyu Police Station and CID
Gwanda went to Nyorovedzo Ndlovu’s homestead on March 31 at around 1AM,” reads
the State papers.
“They found the 15 accused persons sleeping in a spare
bedroom while one of their assistants from Zimbabwe only known as Bheki was
sleeping in the main bedroom.
“Upon realising that he had been cornered by the police
Bheki bolted out of the bedroom through the window and escaped.
“The 15 accused persons were then arrested and secured at
the homestead awaiting screening for Covid-19.”.
The State papers said medical staff from Gwanda Provincial
Hospital examined the group and accused number 15 tested positive for malaria.
He was taken to hospital where he was treated and
discharged. Due to communication barrier, it was only ascertained that the
accused persons were from Ethiopia without valid travelling documents.
The port of entry which they used could not be established
since the person who was assisting them in Zimbabwe escaped. Chronicle
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