MASVINGO - A Masvingo magistrate has denied three South African nationals bail after they brutalised two Zimbabweans after a botched diamond deal in Bikita.

Magistrate Lyn Manyika remanded the South Africans, Jonathan Greyling, 25, Carle Shoun Steyler, 23, and Gordon Ryan Keena, 25, in custody after they were arrested on March 10 for assaulting locals Takawira Morris and Clapas Gozho.

The foreigners were demanding a refund of their money after the Zimbabweans sold them low quality value diamonds.

Prosecutors have charged the South Africans with assault and unlawful dealing and possession of precious minerals. They are currently held at Masvingo Remand Prison awaiting trial.

The locals who were assaulted are also facing charges of contravening a section of the Precious Minerals Act for unlawful dealing in or possession of precious stones.

Prosecutor Mirirai Shumba told the court the South Africans went to Bichenough Bridge in Manicaland Province and purchased a diamond piece from the two locals before heading back to their country.

The foreigners realised when they were back in their country that they had been duped as the diamond was of low quality and was not lucrative on the market despite paying a fortune to the Zimbabweans.

They then hurriedly returned and looked for the locals who they located at Pambudzi Lodge in Bikita.

The foreigners allegedly manhandled Gozho and Morris and demanded a refund.

They were arrested by police during the scuffle. - Godfrey Mtimba