Harare,  (New Ziana) – The Beitbridge Magistrates’ Court has jailed for an effective four years, a Chitungwiza truck driver for smuggling cigarettes.

The National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ) said Ringai Bisitara, (44), had attempted to smuggle into neighbouring South Africa 500 cartons of cigarettes on March 22.

The court heard that Bisitara, employed as a driver by On Part Rams Transport, attempted to smuggle 500 cartons of Remington Gold cigarettes through the Beitbridge Border Post.

He arrived at the border driving a South African registered truck claiming it was empty, but discrepancies in his manifest and statements led to a search.

The truck was eventually impounded after he tried to move it despite being ordered to stop, and the contraband was discovered.

The driver was arrested for failing to produce a bill of entry for the cigarettes. A notice of seizure was issued for both the goods and the truck.

Meanwhile, the NPAZ said a Mvurwi woman who assaulted a creditor who had visited her to collect her money has been jailed to an effective 18 months in jail.

The 25-year-old woman from Forester J Farm in Mvurwi, was initially sentenced to 24 months by the Guruve Magistrates court for assaulting her 49-year-old creditor, but the court conditionally suspended six months of the jail term for five years.

On March 1 around 8pm and at Forester J Farm in Mvurwi, an altercation occurred between the complainant and offender.

The complainant had approached the offender at her residence to collect a US$6 debt, which she paid off with a US$50 note and immediately demanded her change.

When the complainant explained that she did not have the change at that moment, the offender became angry and physically assaulted her, twisting her right-hand ring finger and causing a fracture.

New Ziana