The Sunday Mail
The two landmine dealers who were arrested in Nyanga last week will each perform 840 hours of community service after being convicted of “possessing dangerous weapons without authorisation”.
Rusape provincial magistrate Mr Shane Kubonera sentenced them to three years’ imprisonment; suspended 12 months of the sentence and then commuted the remaining 24 months to community service.
Tendai Nyamutenha (48) and Kuziva Mahwata (50) pleaded guilty when they appeared in court last Monday.
Prosecutor Mr Tafara Chawatama told the court that detectives gathered that Mahwata had landmines at his home in Nyamaropa, Nyanga.
“The detectives carried out investigations and located an informant in Nyanga on January 30, 2017. On February 3, they arrested Nyamutenha who subsequently led them to the foot of Nyasumba Mountain where he kept an 80-millimetre anti-personnel bomb.
“A staff sergeant and bomb disposal expert identified it as an 80-millimetre anti-personnel bomb, which is used to kill people. The detectives arrested Mahwata on the same day, and he led them to his bedroom where he kept an anti-tank mine.
“Such a landmine is used to destroy motor vehicles of any weight or goods trains, and is capable of causing damage to the contents of the motor vehicle or train. The landmine can be used to destroy buildings and bridges, too.
“Mahwata later led the detectives to a bush near his homestead where he showed them a bomb which he had hidden there. The live anti-personnel 80-millimetre motor platoon weapon can be used to attack enemies in a war situation and travels a distance of one kilometre.”
