Staff ReporterIn a surprising turn of events, Cuan Reed Govender, a Durban native, was fined by a Harare court this Tuesday after being cleared of earlier allegations connecting him to a bomb scare that had caused widespread panic and disruption in Zimbabwe last week. The incident, which led to several flights being turned around mid-air, including one carrying Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa, had initially been linked to Govender by government officials.
The case took a significant twist when Zimbabwe’s National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) refrained from establishing any connection between Govender and the alleged bomb threat. This development came after Govender was accused of being the unidentified individual behind the scare by government spokesperson, George Charamba. However, subsequent investigations led to a different outcome.
During a routine security screening, authorities discovered five live rounds of ammunition in Govender’s luggage as he was preparing to board an Airlink flight to South Africa. The items were found within a black satchel and a blue suitcase belonging to Govender, prompting his immediate arrest.
Appearing before Harare Magistrate Ruth Moyo, the court heard from Prosecutor Berlinda Chimuka that Govender had no legal authorization, such as a license, to possess the ammunition. Despite the serious nature of the initial allegations, the focus of the court proceedings centered solely on the ammunition found in his possession.
Govender was subsequently fined the equivalent of approximately R6,000 for the offense, marking the end of a case that had previously implicated him in a high-profile security threat. This incident underscores the complexities of security and legal challenges in the region, highlighting the rigorous processes involved in distinguishing between actual threats and unrelated criminal activities.
