Daring men pounce on an operative from the President’s office

A member of the dreaded Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) was severely thrashed and disarmed by strangers after giving them lift.

This was revealed when Noel Kurura (29) from Village Tangwe under Chief Masunda, Zvishavane, pleaded not guilty to charges of robbery and possessing a firearm without a licence when he appeared before Zvishavane Magistrate Mr Shepherd Mjanja.

The Magistrate sentenced him to 24 months imprisonment for assaulting a state agent and robbery.

He suspended four months on condition of good behaviour.

Mr Mjanja fined Kurura $200 for possessing a firearm without a licence and if he fails to pay the fine, he will be jailed for four months.

Prosecuting, Mr Amos Ncube said on November 8 at around 2PM, Mr Kudakwashe Mazura (the CIO operative) offered Kurura and Tapiwa Gundu a lift at Unki Mine Turn-off along the Zvishavane-Gweru Road.

Gundu, Kurura’s alleged accomplice, is still on the run.

“When the accused person and his accomplice were about to drop off at the 72km peg, they suddenly became violent and started assaulting the CIO operative with fists.

“They overpowered him, took away his CZ pistol and disappeared. The CIO officer went and reported the matter at Zvishavane Police Station,” said Mr Ncube.

Investigations led to Kurura’s arrest.

His accomplice has not yet been caught.