Two Zimbabwean soldiers were arrested for allegedly conniving with three civilians before robbing a truck driver of 35 boxes of Zimbabwean cigarettes worth about R25 000 at gunpoint along the Beit Bridge-Masvingo road last week.

The suspects allegedly intended to smuggle the cigarettes into South Africa through the Beit Bridge border post.

Rodwell Cheza (31) and Stanely Pabweyi (28), both members of the Zimbabwe National Army, and civilians Effort Kakota (23), Mustard Mhurayi (30) and Masimba Chihwayi (25), all of Rodene suburb in Masvingo, appeared before Beit Bridge magistrate Mr Tawengwa Sangster on Friday, 25 April. This followed their arrest on Wednesday (23 April).

The case was postponed to 7 May and no bail was granted to the accused persons. They were, however, advised to apply to the High Court for bail if they wished.

The prosecutor, Mr Tarcicius Moyo, told the court that on April 16, 2008, Kakota, who is a cousin to the truck driver, received information that the driver was going to transport a consignment of 35 boxes of cigarettes to Beit Bridge Border Post on the following day.

He then allegedly teamed up with Admire Mafushe, who is still at large, and hatched a plan to go and steal the contraband in Beit Bridge. They then allegedly sought assistance from the two soldiers.

The following day, the group drove to the border town in a Mazda bakkie owned by Business Equipment Centre, where Chihwayi was employed as a branch manager for Masvingo.

The six then allegedly lay in ambush at a lay-bye point, about 10km outside Beit Bridge town. Mafushe, along with the two soldiers, were dropped at that place while the other three were to track the truck carrying the cigarettes on the highway.

Upon the truck’s arrival at the lay-bye, the trio then emerged from the bushes dressed in army regalia and ordered the complainant to furnish them with his identification particulars. They then manhandled him and dragged him to a nearby bushy area where one of them produced a firearm and threatened to shoot him if did not give in to their demands.

Cheza then searched the truck driver and took away R300 and ZW$40 million before forcing him to drive to the nearby Tshapfuche area where they met the complainant’s cousin waiting with the Mazda bakkie.

At Tshapfuche, they loaded the consignment into their bakkie and subsequently ordered the complainant to drive further to Lutumba Business Centre where he was supposed to receive further instructions to drive back to Masvingo.

However, the victim drove to Beit Bridge town and made a report to police. A follow-up led to the gang’s arrest and the 35 boxes were subsequently recovered. The court was told that the accused intended to smuggle the cigarettes into South Africa. Of late there has been an increase in the number of cigarette smuggling cases at Beit Bridge border post.