LIMPOPO - Luckmore Harunashe (40) was on 17 February 2023 sentenced to 15 years direct imprisonment for possession of commercial explosives by the Musina Regional Court.

On 23 September 2022, Beitbridge Police Task Team received information about a blue Toyota Condor that was transporting the explosives on the N1 road between Musina and Makhado.

The task team members immediately reacted and the suspicious vehicle with two occupants was spotted, stopped and searched.

Upon searching the vehicle, the police found commercial explosives including 247x Blasting Cartridges, 1250 Connector Capped Fuse and 7 Detonating Fuse valued at R70 000-00.

The passenger, Harunashe and the driver, Zorodzai Ignatius Mukonzamariro (31) were placed under arrest. Their case was transferred to the Hawks' Serious Organised Crime Investigation for further handling.

The accused were never granted bail until they were convicted and sentenced. During their trial, the Court heard that Harunashe hired a vehicle driven by Mukonzamariro to transport his explosives from Zimbabwe to South Africa without a permit.

Apart from the 15 years direct imprisonment that was imposed on Harunashe, he was also sentenced to 6 months imprisonment for entering South Africa without a valid passport or pay R20 000-00 fine.

Meanwhile, the driver Mukonzamariro was only sentenced to 6 months imprisonment or pay R20 000- fine for entering South Africa without a valid passport.

The Provincial Head of the Hawks in Limpopo Province, Major General Gopz Govender has commended the court's excellent sentencing period of 15 years. "The proliferation of explosives from cross border countries have increased drastically. This type of heavy sentences will send out the right message to future offenders". Major General Govender said.

Source: South African Police Service