Online Reporter
Thupeyo Muleya
Beitbridge Bureau
Police have arrested two men alleged to be part of an armed robbery gang that has been terrorising people in Beitbridge after they pounced on four shops at Lutumba Growth point, some 20km north of the border town.
Gerald Chihovo (25) and Takudzwa Hlongwane (18), both of no fixed abode, appeared before Beitbridge provincial magistrate Miss Brenda Kachepa, facing charges of robbery.
They were remanded in custody for a joint trial on January 2, next year.
They are accused of stealing at gunpoint property worth R11 420 and US$440 from four complainants on November 19.
Prosecuting, Miss Olivia Chamutinya said on the day in question, around 7pm, Chihovo and Hlongwane, along with their accomplices, only mentioned as Dread, Washington and Kedha entered the first shop armed with pistols.
One of the accused allegedly pointed a pistol at the complainant’s head, demanding cash and they got away with one Itel cell phone and R1 000.
On the same date at around 7:45pm, the four accused persons proceeded to J &M Siphali, General Dealer, Lutumba, Beitbridge.
One of the suspects, Dread, allegedly produced a black pistol and threatened to kill the complainant who surrendered R200.
After that, they moved to another homestead, where they pointed a pistol at the complainant demanding cash and to see the complainant’s husband.
They then force-marched the complainant into her bedroom where they searched her wardrobe drawers and took away cash amounting to R1 020, US$440 and a Samsung A04s.
The prosecutor further alleged that at around 8:30pm on the same day, the accused persons proceeded to another homestead and stole a Huawei Nova 9 cell phone and a power bank all worth R5 200 using the same method.
All the cases were reported to the police who arrested Hlongwane and Chihovo at a drinking spot in the border town following a tip off.
