The Sunday News
Walter Mswazie Sunday News Correspondent
TWO suspected armed robbers who were dragged to court for allegedly pouncing on Bikita Diamond Mine intending to rob the mine of diamonds, walked out as free men following the State’s failure to prove its case against the pair. Lazarus Birima (33) and Francis Ruzariro (28), both of 14 Murambi Flats, Manica Avenue in Mutare, pleaded not guilty to two counts of robbery when they appeared before Masvingo regional magistrate Ms Judith Zuyu last week.
The two, who were represented by Rodney Makausi and Frank Chirairo of Makausi Saratoga Law Firm, were acquitted at the close of State case for lack of evidence.
For the Sate, Mr Moreblessing Rusere said on 15 August 2013 the pair, armed with three rifles, machete, bolt cutter, shifting spanner and seal straps allegedly drove two Toyota Hilux vehicles to Nanji African Diamond Mine in Bikita’s Devure Range.
Upon their arrival they tied a security guard, David Mungaya, with seal straps after which they broke into a diamond flow sorting room looking for the gems.
The court heard that the suspects who were in the company of Dickson Jawa and three others who are still at large were said to have got away with three sets of communication radios valued at $900.
Acting on verbal tip off, police from Masvingo managed to arrest the pair and recovered the two vehicles.
However, Jawa was convicted on his own plea of guilty and sentenced to six years in prison.
