Africa-Press – Mozambique. Two Zimbabwean soldiers are currently being held in Manica after being caught transporting more than 150 kilograms of explosives and detonators in a Mercedes Benz vehicle stopped at the Machipanda border.
The soldiers claim that they did not know what the cargo they were delivering to its alleged owner in the country was.
“When we left Mutare, we were only asked to transport this product. We didn’t know we were getting into trouble,” one of the accused said.
The alleged owner claims that the goods were intended for use in mines in the Penhalonga region.
“The vehicle was stopped at the border. We were taking the product to use in the gold mines. We use it to break stones,” he said.
Ulisses Tembe, Director of Customs in Manica, said the product was seized because it did not have an accompanying transport permit.
“There is crime in the tax process; amounts must be paid on an authorization certificate. There are specific entities at the Ministry of Interior and Defence which authorise the entry of explosives into the country,” said Tembe. “The situation is even more serious because we are experiencing ongoing terrorism in Cabo Delgado.”
Two dockets have been opened over the incident – one criminal, because of the illegal import of explosives into the country, and the other is fiscal, because the goods were being smuggled.
By
Carlitos Cadangue
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