Two men, Alexander Simbarashe Mutendera (40) and Emmanuel Nyamarebvu (50), were arrested after being found with a firearm at an event attended by President Emmerson Mnangagwa in Beitbridge on Monday, February 24.
As reported by <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200038802/duo-arrested-with-gun-at-ed-function">NewsDay</a>, Mutendera works as the Chief Finance Officer at the Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC), while Nyamarebvu is employed by the company as a driver.
The two men were charged with possession of a firearm without a licence and were remanded to March 19 for trial, each on a US$100 bail.
Their lawyer, Jabulani Mberesi from Tavenhave and Machingauta, said that the two are pleading not guilty.
Mberesi argued that the firearm in question was a blank pistol used for scaring away animals on a farm.
Beitbridge resident magistrate Takudzwa Gwazemba granted bail, ruling that the State failed to provide sufficient grounds to deny it.
He also ordered the release of the car belonging to the duo’s employer, after Mberesi argued that it had no connection to the alleged offence and that holding it would disrupt the employer’s operations.
Mberesi further argued that the chance of a conviction was almost non-existent, given that the firearm was not a real gun.
The court heard that on February 24, 2025, the accused were attending a ground-breaking ceremony officiated by Mnangagwa at the Xintai Palm River Metallurgical and Energy Industrial Park in Beitbridge.
At the security checkpoint, a Blow F92 pistol without a serial number was found under the driver’s seat, leading to their arrest.
Prosecutor Tawanda Chigavazira did not oppose the release of the car, as it belonged to the employer, not the accused.
He requested a longer remand period, explaining that the Ballistics Section requires time to test and verify firearms.

Pindula News

Two men were arrested for having a gun at an event with President Mnangagwa in Beitbridge. They work at a diamond company. They were charged with having a gun without a license and got bail. Their lawyer says it was just a blank pistol for scaring animals. The court gave them bail and released their employer's car. The gun was found under the driver's seat at a security checkpoint. The prosecutor wanted more time to test the gun. The men say they are not guilty and will go to trial on March 19.

Two Men Arrested With Gun At Mnangagwa's Beitbridge Event

Police have refuted claims by Clark Makoni, a Zimbabwean businessman involved in real estate and mining, that he was being held at Juru Police Station in Goromonzi after allegedly reporting an attempted robbery.
In an interview with <a href="https://nehandaradio.com/2024/06/06/businessman-clark-makoni-detained-after-attempting-to-report-a-robbery/">Nehanda TV</a> Managing Editor, Lance Guma, conducted at 01:36 AM on June 6, 2024, Makoni claimed that instead of being treated as a victim, he was thrown into a jail cell and charged with discharging a firearm and pointing a gun at someone.
However, in a statement issued this Saturday, Zimbabwe Republic Police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi said that the allegations by Makoni are false. Below is the statement:
<blockquote>
Reference is made to the viral social media posting by attempted murder suspect Clark Clever Makoni (40) on an alleged robbery incident on him by some suspects.
The public is informed that the allegations by Clark Clever Makoni are false.
The correct position is that Clark Clever Makoni has a mining dispute with Courage Moyo, Luxson Kandemiri, Paul Rwodzi and Anesu Muzira.
Initially, the parties were operating a joint venture mine in the Arcturus Area, Goromonzi until their relationship turned sour.
The case is now before the High Court of Zimbabwe and in the process, the Provincial Mining Director has issued a prohibition order for the feuding parties to stop any form of mining activity.
The Police have established that the parties have not complied with the Provincial Mining Director’s directions.
On 05th June 2024, Courage Moyo and the suspect met in Juru on their way to the local Police Station.
A confrontation ensued and Clark Clever Makoni shot Courage Moyo’s vehicle with a firearm on the tyres in full glare of the public. One of the tyres deflated.
Police officers at a security roadblock took the parties to Juru Police Station where the suspect pointed a firearm at his rivals.
He refused to cooperate with police officers and recorded the proceedings which he later posted on social media.
Clark Clever Makoni appeared at Murehwa Regional Magistrate Court on 07th June 2024 facing Attempted Murder, Contravening Section 27(b) of the Firearms Act, Chapter 10:09 “Knowing and without lawful cause pointing a firearm at any person”, contravening provisions of the Cyber and Data Protection Act, Chapter 12:07 and Contravening Section 41(b) of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 9:23 “Conduct likely to provoke the breach of Peace”.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police has also arrested the suspect’s relatives, Silas Makoni, Amos Mapuranga, Tinotenda Maulani and Cross Gore for trying to defeat or obstruct the course of justice.
Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe Republic Police is taking stern disciplinary action against all police officers at ZRP Juru and Murehwa District Headquarters who allowed the suspect, Clerk Clever Makoni to go into the police cells with his property which include cellphone and money. Any corrupt allegations on the part of the police officers will also be probed.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police urges parties who are having business disputes to observe the country’s laws and avoid grandstanding while feeding false information to the world.
Above all, the public is cautioned against name-dropping and false accusations on innocent government or security 
service officials.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

ZRP Refutes Businessman Clark Makoni’s Detention Claims At Juru Police Station

A Bulawayo man has been arrested for pointing his licensed gun at another following a dispute over the price of a Honda Fit fuel pump.
Posting on Twitter, police said Emmanuel Charuka (30) pointed his 9mm pistol at Maxwell Tshabalala (39) at a car parts shop leading to his arrest. Police said:
<blockquote>
The ZRP warns firearm holders against abusing firearms to settle scores. On 05/10/22, Police in Bulawayo arrested Emmanuel Charuka (30) for pointing a firearm.
The suspect pointed a 9mm pistol at Maxwell Tshabalala (39) at a car parts shop in Kelvin North after disagreeing on the price of a Honda Fit fuel pump.
The Police have since recovered the 9mm pistol registered in the suspect’s name.
</blockquote>
In July, police warned members of the public with licensed firearms to desist from displaying them in public.
Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) national spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the police had cases where some people got into shopping centres displaying firearms. He said:
<blockquote>
We have had cases of people who are abusing their firearms. Some are giving them to their relatives who later use them to commit robberies.
Others are not securing their firearms which then land in the wrong hands later used by criminals.
We have also had cases where some people even get into shopping centres and start showing around live arms.
Others get to a stage of going to public gatherings where they start firing unnecessarily in the air, which is dangerous.
</blockquote>

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