Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau
A 30-year-old man from Mberengwa who is facing 15 counts of armed robbery, kidnapping and rape after a two-month crime spree in Beitbridge has been remanded in custody to November 2 to seek medical treatment.
Courage Siziba, also known as Tafadzwa, of Madhibhanjenje Village under Chief Matarutse, appeared before Beitbridge Regional Magistrate Charity Maphosa on Monday.
In court, Siziba claimed he was injured during his arrest and needed medical attention, resulting in the magistrate remanding him in custody to allow him to seek medical treatment and for further investigations.
His accomplice, Trust Mugombe, is still at large.
Prosecutor Willbrought Muleya told the court that Siziba is facing charges ranging from armed robbery, kidnapping, unlawful entry and theft, to theft of a motor vehicle.
Allegations are that Siziba went on a robbery spree between August and October 8, targeting homes, business premises and motorists in Beitbridge Urban.
In counts 1 and 2, he is accused of robbing two men of US$55 and cellphones at a bus stop near Redan Service Station along the Beitbridge-Bulawayo Highway on September 24 after pointing a pistol at them.
The court also heard that for counts 3 to 5, the man broke into a house in the New Medium Density on September 25, robbing two complainants of cellphones, and kidnapping a 12-year-old girl whom he allegedly raped in a bushy area.
In counts 6, 7, and 11, the State accuses Siziba of robbing three different residents of New Medium Density of cash ranging from R1,000 to R3,000 on September 25 and 26.
Further allegations are that in counts 8 to 10, he was involved in an armed robbery at Energy Park Service Station on September 27, where he allegedly held three employees at gunpoint and stole US$2,382 from the safe, US$70 and US$200 from the victims.
For counts 12 and 13, Siziba is accused of unlawful entry into another house in the New Medium Density on October 8, robbing the complainant of R6,310 and two cellphones, and robbing the complainant of US$100 and an iPhone before kidnapping them to a bushy area across the Beitbridge-Bulawayo road.
He is also alleged to have committed armed robbery and attempted robbery in counts 14 and 15, committed in the Khwalu 1 suburb (Hawkflight area), where he robbed the complainant of four cellphones, tablets and cash, and attempted to rob another cellphone dealer.
The State alleges that the man stole property with a combined value of US$38,215, R262,900, and ZiG13,000, with property worth US$35,100 and R250,000 recovered so far, and a Rossi .38 Special revolver loaded with five rounds and 16 extra rounds that were also recovered from his satchel upon arrest on October 21.
