MASVINGO - A Mozambican cattle rustling pair yesterday appeared before a Masvingo Magistrate facing attempted murder charges.
The charges arise from an incident in which they opened fire and injured one man from a group of villagers that tried to stop them from stealing their beasts.
Thomas Eric Mazive, 35, and Thomas Ngwami, 25, were hauled before Masvingo magistrate Judith Zuyu facing charges of attempted murder and robbery.
They allegedly stole eight cattle while brandishing an AK 47 assault rifle and attempted to cross into Mozambique with their loot.
The duo is from Sami Dingi Village in Chiqualaquala area of Mozambique.
They were stopped from crossing into their country by the villagers who tracked and caught them in Gonarezhou National Park.
Prosecutor Mukai Mutume told the court that on November 3 last year at Papazela, a village in Sengwe communal lands, the two approached a 17-year-old herd boy, Last Chikutu and robbed him of eight cattle at gun point.
The two drove the cattle towards the Mozambique border, prompting the teenage herd boy to rush to the village and inform his parents.
The parents alerted other villagers who teamed up and followed the pair and caught up with them in the thicket of Gonarezhou National Park and stopped them.
One of the alleged rustlers wielding an AK47 rifle opened fire on the group, seriously injuring Silas Kavalani on the thigh.
Under pressure from the charging villagers, the rustlers dumped the gun before taking to their heels.
A police report was made and the rustlers were arrested a few days later following a joint operation between Chiredzi police and Parks and Wildlife rangers.
The villagers positively identified the rustlers during an ID parade at Chiredzi Police Station.
The two alleged rustlers are denying the charge and have disowned the AK 47 rifle.
Magistrate Zuyo remanded them in custody to today for continuation of the trial.