Limpopo – Luckmore Harunashe, 40, was sentenced to 15 years of direct imprisonment for possession of commercial explosives by the Musina Regional Court on February 17, 2023.
On 23 September 2022, Beitbridge Police Task Team received information about a blue Toyota Condor that was transporting the explosives on the N1 road between Musina and Makhado.
According to South African Police Service (SAPS) spokesperson, Captain Matimba Maluleke, the task team members immediately reacted and the suspicious vehicle with two occupants was spotted, stopped, and searched.
“Upon searching the vehicle, the police found commercial explosives including 247x Blasting Cartridges, 1250 Connector Capped Fuse, and 7 Detonating Fuse valued at R70 000-00,” Maluleke said in a statement.
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The passenger, Harunashe, and the driver, Zorodzai Ignatius Mukonzamariro (31) were placed under arrest. Their case was transferred to the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation for further handling.
The accused were never granted bail until they were convicted and sentenced. During their trial, the Court heard that Harunashe hired a vehicle driven by Mukonzamariro to transport his explosives from Zimbabwe to South Africa without a permit.
“Apart from the 15 years direct imprisonment that was imposed on Harunashe, he was also sentenced to 6 months imprisonment for entering South Africa without a valid passport or pay R20 000-00 fine,” Maluleke added.
Meanwhile, the driver Mukonzamariro was only sentenced to 6 months imprisonment or to pay a R20 000 fine for entering South Africa without a valid passport.
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Compiled by Junaid Benjamin
