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Thupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
THE country’s envoy to South Africa, Isaac Moyo, says the government is worried about repeated kidnappings of Zimbabweans visiting that country by syndicates operating between Musina and Johannesburg. Moyo said at the weekend that the country was continually engaging the host government over the issue.

“We would like to see an end to the kidnappings of Zimbabweans and we’ll continue to engage the relevant authorities in South Africa to achieve this end. At home we need to make people aware of the dangers of taking certain types of transport at Musina,” he said.

“We’re encouraged by the efforts of relevant South African authorities to bring the criminal syndicates to justice. More robust security interventions will of course bring quicker results and are very necessary in the circumstances”.

The ambassador said despite the arrest of some kidnapping syndicates, more cases of a similar nature were being reported. He said the consulate was dealing with cases where people were kidnapped for ransom while others were robbed of valuables.

In a separate interview, the Consul General to South Africa, Batiraishe Mukonoweshuro, urged Zimbabweans to always use public transport especially conventional buses when travelling to the neighbouring country.

“We want to urge our people to desist from hitch hiking as they risk being robbed by these criminals who are very cunning. We’re working with the police in both Limpopo and Gauteng provinces to ensure that perpetrators of such crimes are brought to book,” he said.

Last year South African police arrested 10 people in connection with the kidnapping of Zimbabwean travellers.

Four of the suspects; Charles Cecil Brewer, 36, his wife Petition Sicelo Madida, 30, Jaheni Luphahla, 28, and Phathumuzi Sibanda, 27, appeared in court for allegedly killing two Zimbabwean women, raping three others and kidnapping 28 fellow countrymen in the neighbouring country.

The offences were committed between May 30 and July 11, 2015.

The case was initially tried at Thembisa Magistrate Court where the quartet has appeared more than four times seeking bail which was denied. Brewer and his associates are expected to stand trial at the North Gauteng High Court today.

Some of the people who were arrested on similar charges include Wisani Sithole, Godknows Dube, Bongani Ngwenya, Sibusiso Ndlovu, Malvin Ndaba and Nkosinathi Ncube.

The syndicate operates from Total and Engen filling stations and a house in Musina.