Byo’s most wanted robbers nabbed

Leonard Ncube Victoria Falls Reporter—
FOUR Bulawayo men who were on the police most-wanted list for a series of crimes have been arrested for robbing Zimpost Binga of more than $16,000 after tying up a security guard manning the premises with a strand of wire. Dingilizwe Mloyi, 37, Bongani Sibanda, 33, Hezekiah Moyo, 38 and Phethezakhe Mpofu, 54, appeared before Hwange magistrate Portia Mhlanga charged with robbery on Friday.

The gang was arrested on Tuesday following the hit in Binga where they allegedly tied up a security guard before taping his mouth shut.

Mloyi of Mbundane, Sibanda of Nketa, Moyo of Cowdray Park and Mpofu of Burombo Flats were on the police most-wanted list for a series of crimes recorded at Bulawayo Central and Hillside police stations. They were not asked to plead and were remanded in custody to August 21.

Prosecuting, Onias Nyathi said the four allegedly used an angle grinder to cut open a money safe after breaking into the Zimpost Binga building at 2AM.

The premises were guarded by Buka Mumpande who was employed by Kaditon Security to guard TelOne and Zimpost premises.

“Allegations against the accused are that on July 27 at Binga Zimpost, they tied up the security guard with wire and went on to break a window pane and burglar bars to gain entry.

“While inside the building they entered the strong room through the ceiling and used a grinder to cut the safe,” said Nyathi.

He said the four stole $16,555 and went away.

“After tying up the security guard, they used sellotape to seal his mouth and shoved him into a toilet where one of them remained guarding him,” said the prosecutor.

The gang is linked to crimes in Bulawayo where Moyo in particular has been on the run after being released on bail pending sentence for robbery at the Bulawayo magistrates’ court housed at Tredgold Building.

In the Binga robbery, when Mloyi, Sibanda, Moyo and Mpofu were arrested, Mumpande positively identified them as his attackers.

The grinder allegedly used to cut the safe and a BMW vehicle they used to commit the crime were recovered.