Online Reporter
Peter Matika, [email protected]
THE trial of Bulawayo socialite, Brighton Chipunza, who is being held for allegedly stealing a South African-registered Toyota Fortuner from a car wash in the city centre last year, has been ordered to continue, despite him changing legal representatives.
The trial, presided over by Bulawayo magistrate, Mr Joseph Mabeza, has so far heard testimonies from three key witnesses linking Chipunza to the crime.
The trial is set to continue on April 15.
Miss Silibaziso Ncube, the complainant and first witness, has since told the court that she had assigned Mr Jonathan Ngando Thuli to take the vehicle to Tunnel Car Wash for cleaning on November 18 last year.
Mr Thuli left the vehicle with Mr Panashe Dube, who works at the car wash, and Mr Dube cleaned and parked it outside.
However, when Ms Ncube went to collect the vehicle at 4pm, she found it missing.
After inquiring with the staff and learning that her car had been stolen, she reported the matter to the police.
The second witness, Mr Thuli, corroborated Ms Ncube’s account, confirming that he had left the vehicle with Mr Dube.
The third witness, Mr Nkosi Moyo, alleged that Chipunza hired him to drive the stolen vehicle from Bulawayo to Harare.
Mr Moyo recounted how Chipunza collected him at midnight from his residence in Emakhandeni and drove to Montrose, where the vehicle was stashed.
He was given the keys and instructed to deliver the vehicle to Chipunza’s co-accused, Julius Chitubhu, in Harare.
“I was in the company of my younger brother, who on that particular day was not feeling well,” he said.
“We were supposed to travel together, but he couldn’t due to his condition. After I was given the keys to the car, I asked to be escorted to town as I was not familiar with the neighbourhood.
“We then passed through Bradfield and re-fuelled the vehicle at a certain garage. Thereafter, I was escorted to Harare Road and given instructions as to what to do when I arrived in Harare,” said Mr Moyo.
The prosecution’s case relies on WhatsApp chats between Chipunza and the supposed buyer, as well as his accomplice in Harare.
The vehicle was recovered from Chitubhu’s yard in Harare with the help of a vehicle tracking company and police detectives. Its front and rear number plates were missing, and the engine chassis number was ground off.
A grinder, stencils, acid, and spray paint were found in the vehicle, linking Chitubhu to the crime.
Members of the Vehicle Theft Squad (VTS) checked the car wash and found that the CCTV at the facility had been deactivated.
Chipunza is now also facing fresh charges after allegedly stealing another vehicle and selling it.
He is accused of stealing a white Mercedes-Benz C180 valued at US$13 000 from South Africa before smuggling it into Zimbabwe. Reports indicate that Interpol agents from South Africa have partnered with the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) to investigate the case.
It is alleged that after stealing the vehicle, Chipunza facilitated its sale through a local car dealership. The transaction was handled by a middleman who was arrested but later released. The middleman, who is assisting police with investigations, implicated Chipunza in the crime.
According to the police, the vehicle’s original registration number is FG26FXGP, its engine number is 27491030413400, and the chassis number reads WDD2050402R095126.
The new charges were confirmed by National police spokesperson, Commissioner Paul Nyathi, saying investigations are ongoing.
“On February 18, 2025, detectives from the CID Vehicle Theft Squad in Bulawayo were patrolling the city centre when they stopped the complainant, Wilfred Mafuka, at the corner of 8th Avenue and Jason Moyo. He was driving a white Mercedes-Benz C180 without number plates,” said Comm Nyathi.
“The vehicle was checked on the Central Vehicle Registry (CVR) database using its chassis number, but it did not appear in the system. The detectives then escorted Mafuka and the vehicle to the police station for further verification.”
Comm Nyathi said that upon checking the Interpol database, police established that the car had been reported stolen in Johannesburg, South Africa, on October 26 last year.
“We strongly believe that Chipunza is part of a vehicle theft syndicate operating between South Africa and Zimbabwe. Investigations are ongoing, and we hope to break the case soon. Once complete, the matter will proceed to court.”
