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Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, Plumtree Correspondent
A GROUP of five omagumaguma severely assaulted a City Bus conductor for allegedly pushing them out of business after they saw him assisting border jumpers to enter the country from Botswana through an illegal entry point.

Two of them, Justice Makoni (33) of Hebron Suburb in Plumtree and Elton Mboma (39) of Njube Suburb in Bulawayo were convicted on their own plea of guilty to assault by Plumtree magistrate, Mr Taurai Manwere.

They were each fined $300 or sentenced to three months imprisonment in case of default. In addition they were each slapped with a suspended nine months jail term on condition that they do not commit a similar offence within the next five years.

Their third accomplice Jimson Shoko (33) of Pumula South in Bulawayo pleaded not guilty and was remanded out of custody to September 28.

Two others who have not been identified are still at large.

Prosecuting, Mr Charles Nyatsine said Makoni, Mboma and Shoko as well as two other accomplices assaulted Mr Sicelo Mpofu on August 4 at around 5AM.

“On 4 August the three men and two others who are still at large met Mr Mpofu while he was escorting City Bus passengers to enter the country from Botswana through an undesignated entry point along the Plumtree Border Post. They accused Mr Mpofu of costing them their business of assisting border jumpers to enter and leave the country illegally.

“They ordered the passengers who were being escorted by Mr Mpofu to pay them money as they were in their territory. Mr Mpofu pleaded with the group of omagumaguma not to harass them,” said Mr Nyatsine.

He said the omagumaguma started assaulting Mr Mpofu with logs all over the body. Mr Mpofu was rescued by a passerby who pleaded with the men to stop assaulting him.

Mr Nyatsine said Mr Mpofu sustained a fractured left arm, swollen body and bruises all over the body as a result of the assault. The matter was reported to the police resulting in the arrest of the three men. — @DubeMatutu