Zimbabwe People’s Front political party president Owen Kuchata (34) and Borman Ngwenya (30), Solomon Makumbe (29) and Silas Pfupa (37) appeared before Harare provincial magistrate Mr Vakayi Chikwekwe under heavy police guard.
They are being charged for possession of weaponry for sabotage and money laundering for terrorism purposes. Mr Chikwekwe remanded the four to February 8 and advised them to apply for bail at the High Court.
The court heard that Ngwenya and Makumbe are attached to 1 Field Regiment and Zimbabwe Intelligence Corps, respectively. The prosecutor Mr Michael Reza alleged that last Friday at around 4pm, police received a tip-off that the four were planning to bomb Alpha Omega Dairy’s processing plant and tuck shop during the night.
The dairy’s processing plant and tuck shop are located at Gushungo Dairy Estate, Jumbo Road in Mazowe. Acting on the tip-off, the police proceeded to the farm and laid an ambush about 100 metres from the quartet’s target.
Around 10pm, the detectives saw the men approaching the dairy’s processing plant and immediately arrested them. They searched them and recovered four Molotov cocktails (bombs) made of petrol, ammonium nitrate, nails and sand in 750 millilitres Chateau empty bottles.
They also recovered Zimbabwe People’s Front party manifesto, party constitution and documents relating to party activities.
The quartet reportedly held several meetings to acquire funding during preparations to carry out the banditry, terrorist and sabotage activities. The quartet made voluntary indications to the police on Sunday.