Online Reporter
Prosper Dembedza
Herald Correspondent
A FORMER cash-in-transit employee, who colluded with armed robbers that stole US$2,7 million belonging to ZB Bank from a cash-in-transit vehicle in 2021, has appeared in court after being arrested following a fistfight with his elder brother over his share of the loot that he had given him for safekeeping.
Investigations revealed that Alfred Shumba was arrested following a fight with his brother, whom he had given US$150 000 for safekeeping before fleeing to South Africa.
Shumba (32) was facing armed robbery charges when he appeared before Harare regional magistrate Mrs Jessie Kufa.
He was remanded in custody and advised to apply for bail at the High Court. The court heard that on January 6, 2021, Shumba, together with other accomplices (already on remand) hatched a plan to rob cash in transit crew members carrying seven boxes containing cash amounting to US$2 775 000.
Fanuel Musakwa, who was a member of the cash-in-transit crew, would communicate and update the accused person on their position.
It is alleged that the cash was to be distributed to ZB Bank branches in Chinhoyi, Kadoma, Kwekwe, Gweru, Fife Street Bulawayo Branch, Gwanda and Zvishavane.
Musakwa’s accomplices used the information relayed to follow the cash-in-transit crew from Harare to Chinhoyi.
Along the way, the cash-in-transit crew members collected a box containing ZW$43 090 at Inkomo tollgate, which was to be deposited at the bank.
The crew members drove off towards Chinhoyi and when they reached Inkomo turn off Musakwa convinced the driver to pick up three of his accomplices after convincing him that they were genuine travelers.
When they reached the 60 Km peg, the driver stopped the vehicle to drop off some of the accomplices. They disembarked and produced a pistol, threatening to shoot the crew members.
Four other accomplices arrived in a red Toyota twin cab, armed with unidentified pistols, which they also threatened the crew with.
They took a pistol and a rifle from the complainants. They drove the motor vehicle off the highway to a secluded place and offloaded the boxes of cash from the cash in transit vehicle and loaded them into their vehicle, which was being driven by Gerald Rutizirira and drove off from the scene, leaving the crew members at the scene.
Shumba and his accomplices went to some farms west of Nyabira, where they broke the boxes with cash amounting to US$2 775 000 and ZW$43 090 and shared the loot amongst themselves before dumping the boxes.
