The State alleges that John Mayodi, Enock Nkatha and Gaston Kamanga on July 11, 2016 at Kazungula village, acting together with a common purpose and with intention to deceive and exploit, unlawfully recruited and transported one Sakina Estoni, Mary Mhone, Malise Biston, Graig Kapota and Tomasi Chirwa from Malawi with intention to traffic them to South Africa. When the accused appeared before Justice Bashi Moesi on Thursday for hearing, Morris Ndawana, the accused’s attorney, said that they have amply demonstrated in their heads of argument that the accused have no case to answer.
“We have clearly shown why the court should return a verdict of not guilty against the accused. We will now like to address the court on the prosecution’s response on specific issues. The court should not lose sight that the most important issue for determination when people are ferried from one point to another is exploitation. “The respondent suggests that this court is at liberty to convict the accused of any other offence besides the current charges. We agree with that but our position is that there is no reason to convict the accused of any other crime,” Ndawana said.
