The Sunday News
Leonard Ncube Senior Court Reporter
SEVEN Ugandans were on Wednesday fined for entering the country through an undesignated entry point, after a group of amagumaguma duped and convinced them that Zimbabwe was not a safe country and they would be arrested if they went through the border.Namubiru Safina (27), Nanyanzi Esther (29), Kobusingye Madina (27), Nnabbanja Florence (20), Ddmba Yusuf (21), Nyanzi Ismail (37) and Muzinguzi Fabriano (28), were found guilty of violating Immigration Laws when they appeared before Victoria Falls resident magistrate Ms Sharon Rosemani.
The seven, all from Kampala, had valid passports and were reportedly convinced by amagumaguma that they were not allowed to pass through Zimbabwe and would be arrested.
The court heard that they were charged about 900 rand and had paid 500 rand each when they were arrested.
They were fined between $10 and $30 each or spend between one week and three weeks in jail each in default.
They implicated a man identified as Ernest Shoko, who has since been charged with helping them illegally cross into the country, and another only identified as Ambassador. Shoko was granted $50 bail and his trial continues.
The Ugandans were on their way to Botswana on Saturday when they were approached by a group of men on the no man’s land between Zambia and Zimbabwe, who told them they could not go through Victoria Falls Border Post as immigration officials were arresting every Ugandan passing through.
“The man convinced us that we will be arrested, saying some Ugandans had been arrested in the morning and if we approach the border we will be arrested too.
He phoned Ernest who came and led us through the bush after the bridge until the bus terminus where we were arrested,” said Safina while testifying against Shoko.
Shoko denies ever helping the group, saying he was wrongly implicated.
Prosecutor Mr Listen Nare said the seven approached Victoria Falls Border Post from Zambia on April 5 at about 8.30pm intending to proceed to Botswana.
They, however, got into the bush through a broken fence avoiding the border after being charged 900 rand by Ernest and his accomplices.
He said police received a tip-off and intercepted the group at Chinotimba Bus Terminus where they were arrested.
