Zim human smugglers sentenced

Eleven out of the dozen, Wandisile Nkomo, Lord Sibanda, Nthabiseni Ncube, German Chuma, Desire Ncube, Zihla Majikijela, Christopher Dube, Vivian Masenda, Dorcus Ndebele, Alton Ngwenya, Headman Ndlovu, entered Botswana through an ungazetted point of entry at Ramokgwebana village on March 29.

All pleaded guilty to entering Botswana through an ungazetted point of entry, save for Khaya Ngwenya, the first accused. The dozen’s brush with the law started after they were intercepted in the company of six minors in Francistown en route to South Africa (SA). The minors are now in the custody of social welfare officers. During mitigation prior to sentencing, it was apparent that the dire socio-economic situation in Zimbabwe was the main factor that caused the accused to commit the offences they pleaded guilty to. Most of the accused, now convicts, pleaded with the court to tamper justice with mercy because they were caught in Botswana en route to South Africa to look for greener pastures. When passing the sentence, Magistrate Ditebogo Ntuli said: “I have considered what each and every one of you has said in mitigation.