The ManicaPost
Justine Mapangisana : Court Reporter
TWO illegal fuel vendors recently teamed up and tried to burn a service station In Mutare in a bid to boost their illegal business.The two, Leonard John (22) and Jasper Nyamaende, have since appeared in court charged with attempted malicious damage to property as defined in Section 140 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 9.23.
They appeared before senior Mutare magistrate, Mr Langton Mukwengi who remanded them in custody to Thursday (yesterday).
They pleaded not guilty.
Prosecuting, Mr Andrew Motsi, said on September 8, John and Nyamaende smuggled 60 litres of petrol from Mozambique into Zimbabwe and took it to Mims Centre for safekeeping during the night.
“At around3.30am, Nyamaende sent John to pour 20 litres of petrol at Sakunda Service Station and burn it.
“John took the 20l of petrol, poured it on the area which houses the Sakunda fuel tanks. He then took a cardboard box and set it on fire.
“He was instructed to do so by Nyamaende who had promised to pay him $20 if he successfully completed his mission of burning the service station,” said Mr Motsi.
Fortunately the fire was extinguished by one of the fuel attendants, Blessing Pangira before it burnt the whole service station.
