adminTendai Rupapa Harare Bureau
PATSON Dzamara — brother to missing MDC-T activist-cum-journalist, Itai — and his alleged accomplices who were arrested on allegations of robbery and defeating the course of justice, were yesterday released on $1,000 bail each. Dzamara is jointly charged with Oliver Chikumba, 32, Tatenda Mombeyarara, 33, Pride Mukono, 26 and Makomborero Haruzivishe, 33.
They reportedly robbed two women who were passing through the Africa Unity Square where the gang was camped.
According to the police, the women, Nomsa Dube and Angela Chuma screamed for help, and when the police rushed to the scene, the group assaulted the police officers and resisted arrest.
They appeared before magistrate Vakayi Chikwekwe who granted them $500 bail each on the first charge of robbery and $500 each on the second charge of defeating or obstructing the course of justice.
Through their lawyer, Obey Shava, the gang complained that they were assaulted while in police custody.
Shava also accused the police of trying to abduct Dzamara and Haruzivishe.
“Your Worship, on June 8, there was an aborted attempt to abduct the pair from the Africa Unity Square. The accused persons were occupying the Square together with other activists where they were protesting against issues of corruption by the government,” he said.
“An unmarked vehicle arrived at the scene and the driver of that vehicle ordered two men who were passengers to pick Dzamara and Haruzivishe and put them in the vehicle. They resisted and they identified the driver as Detective Assistant Inspector Chafa from the Law and Order Section. Upon noticing that he had been identified, he then sped off.”
Chikwekwe ordered the State to investigate the alleged claims by the gang.
He also ordered that the accused persons be examined and treated by a government doctor since some of them said they sustained injuries due to assault.
Prosecutor Sebastian Mutizirwa alleged that on June 9, at around midnight, Dube and Chuma who were coming from Murehwa disembarked at Simon Muzenda Street bus terminus.
They walked along Jason Moyo Avenue and used a pathway that passes through Africa Unity Square on their way to Copacabana bus terminus.
As they were passing through Africa Unity Square, they were then confronted by the gang who ordered them to stop and surrender their belongings.
They suddenly snatched Dube and Chuma’s bags while searching them.
According to the State, Dube’s bag contained three school uniform dresses, one jersey, a pair of trousers, a jean skirt and a wallet with US$30 while Chuma’s bag had three jerseys and a dress.
Dube and Chuma screamed for help and ran towards Club Chambers along Third Street.
Three police Constables, Nyazema, Makona and Nhidza, who were on patrol near the Parliament of Zimbabwe, heard the screams and rushed to the scene.
Upon seeing the police officers approaching, the gang tried to escape but was cornered by the officers.
When the police officers tried to arrest them, the gang, the State alleged, resisted and took away Cst Nhidza’s hat and baton stick.
They allegedly dragged him to a vehicle which was parked along Jason Moyo Avenue but the police officers managed to overpower the gang and arrested them.
The hat and the baton stick were recovered from Dzamara.
The police searched around the area and recovered Dube and Chuma’s bags which had been emptied.
Total value of the property stolen is $80 and nothing was recovered.
Online Reporter