Online Reporter
Prosper Dembedza-Herald Correspondent
A Harare magistrate on Friday acquitted three South African men linked to the criminal network of the deceased armed robber kingpin, Godknows Machingura, after the State failed to prove its case against them.
Ndiafhi Makhado (39), Andrew Masubelele (38), and Emmanuel Makamo (22), who were represented by lawyer Mr Cloud Bare, were found not guilty following a full trial.
However, their local accomplice, Paul Zhou, was convicted for his role in the plot and is scheduled to be sentenced on October 15.
The group’s arrest in December 2023 stemmed from a police tip-off about their plans to rob businessman Paul Chimbodza.
According to court proceedings, detectives raided a guest house along Mauritius Road in Arcadia where the suspects were staying.
Upon the police’s arrival, the suspects attempted to flee. One of them, Jabulani Ngobeni, opened fire on the detectives, triggering a shoot-out.
Ngobeni was shot in the hip during the exchange.
The police subsequently arrested Ngobeni, Makhado, Masubelele, Zhou, and Makamo.
The operation led to the recovery of a 9 mm Star Pistol loaded with four rounds of ammunition.
Several of the suspects, including Makhado, Ngobeni, Masubelele, and Makamo, sustained injuries during the confrontation and were taken to Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals for treatment. Ngobeni died upon admission.
During investigations, Zhou confessed to detectives that he had booked the accommodation and hired two vehicles — a Toyota Fortuner and a Honda Fit — after receiving US$400 from Machingura.
The group revealed they had planned to commit a robbery along Birmingham Road in Kwekwe, while Machingura was in Shamva monitoring the movements of their target.
In a separate operation, Machingura was later lured to Morgan High School in Arcadia, where he was arrested after a high-speed chase and another shoot-out with detectives.
He was shot in the groin during the incident. Police recovered a 9 mm Taurus Pistol with a magazine of nine live rounds from him.
Machingura was taken to Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, where he died upon admission.
