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Fungai Jachi Court Correspondent
A 29-year-old alleged serial robber who mostly targeted churches and stole property and cash amounting to $7 000 was yesterday arraigned before the courts facing 10 counts of robbery.
Enock Mubengwa, who lives at Komboniyatsva along Chiremba Road in Epworth, appeared before Mbare magistrate Ms Anita Tshuma charged with robbery.
Ms Tshuma remanded him in custody to December 14 for trial.
Prosecutor Mr Tafara Chirambira alleged that on 10 different occasions Mubengwa used the same tactic of breaking into locked church buildings using an iron bar with which he assaulted the security guards before stealing cash and mobile phones.
It is alleged that on October 14 at ZAOGA Church in Sunningdale, Mubengwa – in the company of three accomplices who are still at large – used an iron bar to assault the security guard manning the premises.
The court heard that he went on to open the church’s locked door using an iron bar and looted 1 489 rands and $632 from the church’s safe.
Allegations are that on November 11 Mubengwa and his gang went to an Apostolic Faith Mission (AFM) church in Hatfield and assaulted the security guard with an iron bar before tying his hands with a wire.
It is the State’s case that Mubengwa went on to break into the church’s safe and helped himself to $4 913, 8 119 rands and 894 pula.
Two of Mubengwa’s victims who were robbed of their cash and mobile phones had sought refuge at ZAOGA church in Hatfield.
Mubengwa was arrested after he was found in possession of some of the stolen mobile phones.
The total amount stolen was $7 238, R8 119 and P894.
Only $1 053 was recovered.
Meanwhile, Lovemore Meya reports that a Chitungwiza teenager has been jailed close to four years for housebreaking.
Edmore Magura (19) and his accomplice Tawanda Chinopenga (36) pleaded guilty to five counts of unlawful entry when they appeared before Chitungwiza magistrate Ms Jessy Kufa last Friday.
They stole goods worth $1 390.
Ms Kufa sentenced the pair to five years in jail before suspending 10 months on condition they pay back $670 to their victims.
According to prosecutor Mr Innocent Tizirai, Magura and Chinopenga committed the offences between November 5 and 23.
On November 23 they stole property belonging to Modline Mutaisi.
Investigations by the police nailed the pair.
Valuables worth $720 were recovered.
On the first count, the pair broke into into Reya Gwizo’s house in Unit D around midnight.
They forced the door open and stole blankets, kitchen utensils and groceries worth $200.
A week later, they pounced on Anna Mutimurefu in the same location.
They stole blankets, clothes and kitchen wares worth $300.
They also forced their way into Nommater Karoro’s house and stole two mobile phones worth $290.
Magura and Chinopenga also stole electrical gadgets and blankets valued at $250 from Beauty Tarugarira who was attending a funeral.
On November 23 they stole property belonging to Modline Mutaisi.
Investigations by the police nailed the pair.
Valuables worth $720 were recovered.
Online Reporter