Online Reporter
Nyore Madzianike
Senior Reporter
THE High Court has denied bail to two suspected armed robbers, Marlvin Magumura and Tonderai Nyamukondiwa, who stand accused of taking part in a violent robbery at Ellis Robins High School in Mabelreign, Harare, in May this year.
The duo, who were arrested following a dramatic shoot-out with police in July, are facing charges of armed robbery, unlawful possession of explosives and possession of an unlicensed firearm.
It is said that the pair, together with their now deceased accomplice, Jeremiah Makaza and two others still on the run-allegedly stormed the school on May 28, 2025, around 10 pm, attacking the security guard on duty before using explosives to blow open the school’s strong room.
The robbers reportedly made off with an Itel P40 cellphone, a Samsung A03 handset, airtime worth US$25, US$685 cash and groceries valued at US$74 from the school tuckshop.
Attempts to blow open the school safe reportedly failed.
The security guard was allegedly assaulted and left tied up and left unconscious before he managed to alert school authorities.
Police investigations led to the arrest of Makaza on July 10, 2025, who was found in possession of an assortment of suspected housebreaking tools, including bolt cutters, a crowbar, binoculars, gloves, and a balaclava.
Upon interrogation, Makaza reportedly implicated Magumura and Nyamukondiwa, leading to a police sting operation at a place commonly known as paMasimbi intersection along High Glen and Glen Norah roads.
When police approached the suspects’ vehicle, a shoot-out ensued. Detectives returned fire, subduing the suspects and arresting the duo.
A search on the vehicle uncovered a .38 Revolver with an erased serial number, a BT4 Combat gas-operated rifle, 10 detonator fuses, 6 dynamite sticks and various burglary tools.
In their bail application, Magumura and Nyamukondiwa denied the allegations, claiming they were innocent passengers waiting to meet Makaza, who was Magumura’s uncle.
They told the court that they fled when they heard gunfire, believing they were under attack by robbers.
They argued that the State’s case was weak, that there was no direct evidence linking them to the robbery and that they had no reason to abscond or interfere with witnesses.
However, the State opposed bail, arguing that the pair were a flight risk and that the charges they face are serious and violent in nature.
Prosecutors said the recovery of firearms and explosives from their vehicle, as well as ballistic evidence showing that the revolver had been fired, demonstrated a strong case against them.
In denying bail, High Court judge Justice Emilia Muchawa ruled that the applicants were not suitable candidates for release, noting the gravity of the charges, the risk of abscondment, and the possibility that they could regroup with accomplices still at large.
The two remain in custody pending trial, while police continue to pursue the other suspects involved in the Ellis Robins High School robbery.
