By Rex Mphisa
THREE members of the Zimbabwe National Army, who allegedly fatally shot a man near their camp in Beitbridge on Saturday, briefly appeared in court yesterday facing a murder charge.
Ngqabutho Koza (29), Emmanuel Gandidzanwa (25) and Oscar Mutambisi (age not given), all from the 11 Combat Group, Induna Barracks Bulawayo, were not asked to plead when they appeared before magistrate Langton Mukwengi and were remanded to today for confirmation of their statements.
Their lawyer Jabulani Mzinyathi said: “My clients wrote their own statements and are aware of the charge they face. Police have been helpful and I thought this should also be mentioned.”
According to their request for remand, the three received a tip-off about people attempting to smuggle tobacco. They took their service AK47 guns and left their camp on patrol and came across a group of men, including their victim Jervis Madyira.
The group, according to the State, fled and Khoza opened fire, hitting Madyira in the back, killing him instantly. Khoza, Gandidzanwa and Mutambisi fled from the crime scene.
A post-mortem conducted at Beitbridge District Hospital yesterday was not produced in court, but shows that Madyira was hit from the back of his right armpit and the bullet exited under his left breast.
