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The group Ethiopian illegal immigrants heading to court to yesterday

Richard Muponde, Gwanda Correspondent
COURT proceedings were halted yesterday when 13 illegal Ethiopian migrants wailed in court, claiming they were hungry.

The Ethiopians were arrested on Wednesday for illegally entering the country.

Noise filled the Gwanda Magistrates Court and some people in the gallery also started crying.

The youngest of the immigrants, a 16-year-old boy, was the first to burst into tears and the magistrate, Williard Maphios Moyo, instructed the interpreter to ask what was bothering him.

As if on cue, all the illegals started crying.

One of them, Bakela Mekore Libayo, 25, who understands English, said they were hungry.

The situation affected some members of the public in the gallery who also broke down.

Magistrate Moyo advised the Ethiopians that they would be given food in prison.

The Ethiopians increased volume and refused to leave the gallery, claiming they would not get food in prison.

Prison officers had a torrid time removing them from the courtroom.

Moloro, 23, Erimeyas Tasfay Moloro, 23, Fichgo Erusulo Bunetas, 23, Abera Zalake Girema, 22, Salamu Ashebo Mikoree, 23, Adino Abainu Erisano, 20, Tsgaye Habtamu Shucaro, 24, Tedele Detamo Sadamo, 24, Dawet Ersesano Sasi, 20, Terekas Dahala Sadoro, 25, and two juveniles aged 16 and 17 were not asked to plead to charges of illegally entering Zimbabwe.

Moyo remanded them in custody to March 30.

Takunda Mafudze, for the state, told the court that on Wednesday at around 3AM, the 13 Ethiopians were intercepted by police at Skuta Business Centre in Filabusi aboard a Toyota Granvia driven by Edmore Murimbika assisted by Leon Tom who are locals.

They failed to produce permits authorising them to be in the country leading to their arrest, the court heard.

Murimbika and Tom, both of Karoi, also appeared in court being charged with assisting illegal immigrants and were remanded in custody to today for plea recording.