The ManicaPost
Tendai Gukutikwa Weekender Correspondent
A MOZAMBICAN father of 18 who allegedly attempted to illegally help his minor daughter to cross into Zimbabwe without relevant travelling documents was last week arraigned before the courts.
Alfonso Chimbekezo (42) pleaded guilty to contravening Section 40(1) of the Immigration Act, Chapter 04: 02 when he appeared before Mutare magistrate, Mr Poterai Gwezhira.
Public Prosecutor, Mr Fletcher Karombe, alleged that on January 11, 2017 at Forbes Border Post, Shuvai Chimhau, an immigration officer was on duty manning the entry gate when she observed a child who had no travelling documents crossing the border from Mozambique to Zimbabwe.
Chimhau is alleged to have asked the child who she was travelling with and she indicated that she was coming from Mozambique with her father.
She then approached Chimbekezo who was waiting at the gate in a car to see if the child had managed to cross illegally.
“He was asked to produce relevant travelling documents for his child and he had none. This led to his subsequent arrest,” said Mr Karombe.
Chimbekezo was remanded in custody to yesterday (Thursday) for sentence.
In mitigation, Chimbekezo begged for forgiveness and a non-custodial sentence as he told the court that he was a father of 18 children.
He said he had four wives and therefore needed to look after them.
Meanwhile, a Mozambican couple and their four children were arrested at Forbes Border Post after they overstayed in the country.
Joao Marcos Choa and Cigaretta Eva Rabissone pleaded guilty to overstaying in Zimbabwe when they appeared before Mr Gwezhira.
They were being charged with contravening Section 29(1) of the Immigration Act, Chapter 4:02.
