Online Reporter
Peter Matika, Senior Reporter
THREE suspects who were arrested in Bulawayo last week, in connection with the murder of Sergeant Abel Masava and a string of armed robbery incidents targeting fuel service stations in the western areas, have appeared in court.
The trio that was initially accused of killing Sergeant Masava in Sizinda suburb, who was responding to a distress call and was shot in the head by the alleged suspects, is now exclusively being charged with robbery.
Comprising Clifford Desmond Nare (34) of Cowdray Park suburb, Thabo Dube (24) of Pelandaba suburb, and Mandlenkosi Albert Mungati (29), from Pumula South, the trio appeared before Western Commonage magistrate, Ms Sikhethile Moyo yesterday.
They were remanded in custody to 17 April and advised to present their bail applications.
According to State records, the trio’s reign of terror spanned from 2024 until their arrest last week.
It was stated that the trio, in the company of two other suspects who are believed to have been gunned down during an exchange of fire, launched their reign of terror in November last year.
“The accused persons in the company of their accomplices who were armed with two firearms, proceeded to Nova Petroleum, located in Cowdray Park suburb in Bulawayo. While at the garage, one of the accused persons holding a five-litre container, approached the complainants who were at the fuel pump under the pretext that he wanted to buy petrol. The accused remained standing at the pump, looking down even though he had been told there was no petrol.
“In no time, the other accused also appeared, produced a firearm and directly pointed at the second complainant’s forehead and ordered him to lie down as he demanded cash and valuables. The other accused person, who had a five-litre container, dropped the container, produced a jungle knife, grabbed the first complainant from behind, forced him down, threatening to kill him,” read the documents.
On another count, on 8 November last year at about 10pm, the suspects attacked a security guard employed at the same garage, where they laid siege and disarmed him of a firearm valued at US$1 300.
“On 2 March 2025, at around 0030 hours. The accused proceeded to Pure Gas, Kelvin West, Bulawayo in a white Hybrid Honda Fit and dropped two accomplices 50 metres away from the facility. The accused persons disarmed one of the complainants, a security guard, they assaulted and dragged him to the office where they shot at the office window. They captured the two complainants, assaulting them with the butt of the pistol, demanding cash and valuables. They ransacked the office but failed to get the cash. The accused persons tied all the complainants’ hands and legs with shoelaces before they left the scene,” read the documents.
It was mentioned that on 2 March at around 1am, the suspects proceeded to Pumula South, near Lion of Judah Church, along Khami Road and hijacked a Honda Fit.
“They smashed the driver’s side window, pulled the key from the ignition, opened the car’s door and entered. While inside the vehicle, they demanded that the complainant surrender his valuables.
“The suspects tied the complainant with a rope, placed him inside the boot of the car and drove to DA Garage, Nkulumane 12, Bulawayo at the intersection of Intemba and Khami Road, intending to commit a crime of armed robbery.”
derick.khumalo