A 43-year-old man, Christopher Ncube, from Shabane village in Mponengs, Matabeleland South, along with two accomplices, has been arr3sted in Botswana for allegedly stealing solar panels and batteries. Ncube appeared before Plumtree Magistrate Joshua Nembaware and was remanded in custody until his trial.
The prosecutor, Selestine Madziwa, informed the court that the alleged theft was reported by Christian Jackson of Stonecreek Farm in Matshelagabedi, Botswana.
The court heard that Ncube, Shabane, and James Ncube, who have been previously convicted for ill3gally crossing into Botswana on October 23 last year, worked together to commit the crime.
According to the allegations, the trio crossed the Zimbabwe-Botswana border before stealing the solar panels and batteries installed at Stonecreek Farm.
The case will continue with the trial, and further details are expected to emerge as the proceedings progress.
It is alleged that on the day, Ncube entered the premises and stole six 12-volts batteries, a control box and an adaptor before disappearing.
Madziwa further told the court that when they realised that they could not carry all the stolen goods to Zimbabwe, they dug a pit near the premises and hid four batteries.
He said the @ccused crossed back into Zimbabwe using an ill3gal point with two batteries, control box and an adaptor and kept the goods at their homesteads.
The matter was reported to the police leading to the trio’s @rrest.
The police recovered the batteries, control box and an adaptor at Ncube’s homestead.
The stolen goods were valued at 30 150 Pula while police only recovered property worth I2 860 Pula.
SOURCE : SOUTHERN EYE
