TWO gun–wielding Kuwadzana residents will rue the day they decided to move around with their firearm after they were last week slapped with a year-long jail sentence for contravening the country’s firearms law.
PHILLIP CHIDAVAENZI, SENIOR REPORTER
The pair of Mary Sithole and Notice Vengai was found guilty of contravening the Firearms Act which makes it a criminal offence to possess an unregistered firearm.
The two were initially slapped with 18 months behind bars before the court suspended six months of the sentence on condition of good behaviour while their firearm, a .22 Webley revolver, was forfeited to the State.
The pair was arrested at Kuwadzana 2 Service Station with the revolver after police raided their Toyota Raum vehicle following a tip off.
Prosecutor Francisca Mukumbiri told the court that the two were found with four rounds of ammunition that was in the dashboard. The court also established that the two failed to produce certificates allowing them to possess the firearm which was registered in the name of one Theresa Juscczyk.
In another related matter, five men appeared before Harare magistrate Donald Ndirowei last Friday charged with poaching and illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.
The five — Simon Paiwa (42), Jairos Makami (43), David Nyakumbi (age not given), Prosper Dangirwa (19) and Chengetayi Chitsve (32) – were remanded in custody to November 28.
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Prosecutor Tungamirai Chakurira alleged that on November 1 this year the suspects allegedly hunted for wildlife at the University of Zimbabwe Farm without permission.
The court heard that Paiwa allegedly attempted to kill one Gladys Jaji by firing towards her with a .9mm Star pistol, but missed her after she had knelt down.
A police report was subsequently made, leading to the arrest of the suspects who were also found in possession of a knife and four animal carcasses.
