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Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau

A BEITBRIDGE magistrate has sentenced four Burundi nationals to 30 days’ imprisonment for entering the country illegally and trying to skip the border from Zimbabwe to South Africa.

In addition to the fine, Beitbridge resident magistrate Mr Takudzwa Gwazemba ordered the quartet’s deportation to Burundi.

Lodridge Nkurunziza (27), Leon Tungamwese (21), Jeanine Gahimbire (27) and Firmat Niyonkengurura (27) were convicted on their own plea of guilty for contravening a section of the Immigration Act Chapter 4:02.

The accused persons were slapped with 30 days’ imprisonment with an option of a US$30 fine.

Prosecuting, Miss Olivia Chimutinya said on October 23, the four arrived in the country illegally from Lusaka, Zambia via Chirundu Port of Entry aboard Huace Bus service.

They were en route to South Africa via the Beitbridge Border Post and upon getting to Harare they boarded a Tems bus intending to illegally cross into South Africa.

The State said on the following day around 10pm, the accused persons were intercepted by Immigration officers from the compliance and enforcement unit and police officers during routine patrols at the Tshapfutshe area some 35km before reaching the Beitbridge border post.

Following their interception and interrogation it was discovered that they had no valid visitors’ entry certificates which permitted them to enter, remain or depart from the country.

As a result, they were arrested.