Online Reporter
Yeukai Karengezeka-Court Correspondent
ANOTHER man accused of being involved in the robbery and brutal murder of prominent businessman Joseph Mutangadura, appeared in court yesterday facing multiple charges.
Given Mandizadza (39) was arraigned before Harare regional magistrate Mrs Marehwanazvo Gofa, charged with armed robbery, murder, unlawful possession of a firearm and illegal possession of explosives. Mandizadza is jointly charged with Philemon Anesu Machadu (33) regarding the firearm and explosives charges.
Mandizadza was advised to apply for bail at the High Court and is expected to return to court on November 6. According to prosecutor Rufaro Chonzi, the crime occurred on August 17, at Mutangadura Hideout Farm. Around 11.15pm, security guard Mr Bonus Kadiwa, who was on duty, heard dogs barking and went to check.
He spotted two men crawling near the gardener’s cottage towards the main house. As Mr Kadiwa approached, he was grabbed from behind and threatened with a pistol.
Mandizadza and his accomplices tied Mr Kadiwa’s hands with shoelaces removed from his shoes and interrogated him about the entrance to Mutangadura’s house. Mr Kadiwa, newly employed at the farmhouse, claimed he did not know.
The suspects, armed with claw bars, hammers and pistols, forced Mr Kadiwa around the house before breaking down the north-facing main door to gain entry. Mr Kadiwa realised there were seven attackers, all wearing balaclavas. They confiscated his cellphone and left one suspect to guard him while the other six ransacked the house.
Inside, one of the suspects located 14-year-old Ryan Mutangadura, who was sleeping in a bedroom in the southern wing.
The remaining suspects broke into the master bedroom, where they encountered Mutangadura. A single gunshot was fired, hitting the businessman in the chest and killing him instantly.
The suspects then began ransacking the bedroom for valuables.
Ryan was brought to the dining room, where Mr Kadiwa was being held, and was forced to witness his father’s lifeless body lying in a pool of blood.
The suspects eventually fled the scene. Mr Kadiwa managed to crawl to the bedroom, where he was untied by Mrs Patience Dambudzo Mutangadura, the businessman’s wife.
Ryan used his mother’s cellphone to contact a relative, Ms Nyarai Rukundu, who alerted others. The family rushed the injured to Eden Clinic in Ruwa, but Mutangadura was pronounced dead upon arrival.
Mrs Mutangadura, who had fallen unconscious, was later transferred to Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals for further treatment, while the businessman’s body was taken to the hospital mortuary.
On the other two charges, it is alleged that on October 15, Mandizadza and Machadu were arrested by CID Homicide detectives at the intersection of Robert Mugabe Road and Julius Nyerere Way in Harare. A search of their white Isuzu yielded incriminating items, including a 7.62 x 25mm Tokarev pistol with an erased serial number, an empty magazine, eleven 9 x 19mm live cartridges, a 7.62 x 25mm blind cartridge, three .32 long live cartridges, and a 9mm EKOL pistol with a magazine loaded with seven 9mm live cartridges.
The suspects failed to produce valid licences authorising possession of the firearms and explosives. The case has drawn significant public attention due to the nature of the crime and the high profile of the victim.
