The
accused,
Likhwa
Nyathi
(26),
Simangele
Singa
(40),
Definite
Munsaka
(34),
Chetai
Mathe
(35)
and
Lynette
Zulu
(34),
appeared
before
Magistrate
Matove.
The
State
was
represented
by
prosecutor
J.
Makanza,
while
the
villagers
were
represented
by
lawyer
Thulani
Nkala
of
Dube
and
Nkala
Legal
Practitioners.
Nkala
confirmed
that
the
five
are
expected
to
return
to
court
on
17
October
2025
for
remand.
The
villagers
face
charges
of
contravening
Section
118(1)(a)
of
the
Water
Act
(Chapter
20:24)
and
Section
41(b)
of
the
Criminal
Law
(Codification
and
Reform)
Act
(Chapter
9:23),
which
relate
to
disorderly
conduct.
Zulu
faces
an
additional
charge
under
Section
77(1)(9)
of
the
same
Act.
According
to
the
State,
the
incident
occurred
on
1
October
2025
at
Kalope
Dam,
where
the
accused
allegedly
obstructed
ZhongJin
Heli
Energy
(Private)
Limited,
represented
by
Silvester
Munkuli,
from
laying
water
pipes
meant
to
draw
water
from
the
dam
as
authorised
by
the
Zimbabwe
National
Water
Authority
(ZINWA).
“On
the
1st
day
of
October
2025
at
around
700
hours,
Silvester
Munkuli
together
with
his
co-workers
and
supervisors
were
working
on
laying
water
pipes
to
draw
water
from
Kalope
Dam
when
the
accused
Nyathi
and
Singa
proceeded
to
Kalope
Dam
and
started
telling
the
ZhongJin
workers
to
stop
laying
water
pipes
or
else
they
would
stone
them,”
said
Makanza.
“Police
officers
comprising
of
Assistant
Inspector
Mhini
and
Theresa
Humanikwa
proceeded
to
the
scene
where
they
apprehended
Nyathi
and
Singa,”
he
added.
Makanza
told
the
court
that
once
the
other
villagers
heard
of
the
arrests,
“Munsaka,
Chetani
and
Zulu
proceeded
to
Kalope
Dam
where
they
threatened
to
call
other
villagers
so
that
they
stone
ZhongJin
Heli.”
He
said
the
complainant
then
informed
the
police,
who
revisited
the
scene
and
found
that
the
workers
had
stopped
laying
the
PVC
water
pipes
connecting
Kalope
Dam
to
the
company.
“The
police
officers
ordered
the
workers
to
resume
working
and
during
the
time,
Nyathi,
Singa
and
Zulu
jumped
into
the
trench
and
removed
laid
PVC
pipes
out
of
the
trench
and
went
on
to
block
the
excavator
pathway
along
the
mainline
trench
in
order
to
stop
excavation
in
the
trench.
The
excavator
operator
subsequently
stopped
working
as
a
result,”
said
Makanza.
In
a
second
count,
the
State
alleges
that
the
accused
engaged
in
riotous
conduct
by
threatening
to
stone
police
officers
at
the
scene,
allegedly
shouting
in
Shona, “tokutemayi
nematombo,” which
translates
to “we
will
strike
you
with
stones.”
“Thereby
incited
other
villagers
in
obstructing
ZhongJin
Heli
Energy
(Private)
Limited
from
connecting
the
water
pipes.
The
accused
persons
were
subsequently
arrested.
Accused
persons
acted
unlawfully,”
said
Makanza.
On
a
third
count,
Zulu
is
accused
of
indecent
exposure
after
she
allegedly
“removed
her
dress
and
exposed
her
breasts
in
full
view
of
others
at
Kalope
Dam.”