HARARE – Eight Pakistani nationals, arrested Tuesday while hiding at the home of Zanu PF Hurungwe North aspiring MP Pax Muringazuva after sneaking into the country armed with fake holiday visas, have been remanded in custody.
They are Farukh Dilawar, 20, Tahir Azeem, 37, Sikandar Zulquarnain, 31, Muhammad Tahir, 26, Muhammad Fayaz, 39, Muhammad Asif, 26, Muhammad Ali, 28, and Muhammad Gazi, 15.
The illegal immigrants briefly appeared before Harare magistrate Dennis Mangosi on Wednesday charged with breaching the Immigration Act.
Muringazuva was separately charged.
He is facing two charges relating to violating the Immigration and Trafficking Acts.
The politician was however granted ZW$300,000 bail and ordered to return to court on March 23.
According to court papers, Muringazuva is part of a syndicate that facilitated the travel of the immigrants.
Court heard between November 2022 and January this year, Muringazuva allegedly took part in assisting the foreigners obtain fake 30 day holiday visas as their host.
The suspects landed in Zimbabwe on January 16 in the morning via Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport.
They then went to Muringazuva’s home in Harare’s Mabelreign suburb where they were caught crammed in a one-roomed cottage.
