Online Reporter
Danisa Masuku, Court Reporter
FOUR suspected armed robbers accused of robbing security guards, mine workers and a mine have appeared in court.
Charles Ndlovu (52) from Cowdray Park suburb, Shelton Jubane (37) from Lupane in Matabeleland North Province, Prince Chisale (31) from Pumula South suburb and Clive Ncube (25) from Cowdray Park appeared before Bulawayo Regional Magistrate Mr Lungile Ncube facing three counts of armed robbery.
They were not asked to plead and were remanded in custody to 1 October and advised of their right to engage a lawyer or apply for bail at the Bulawayo High Court.
Prosecuting, Ms Tsungai Charmaine Mutapi told the court that on 26 June 2026 shortly after 6PM, the complainant commenced his night shift duty and was deployed at the 02A Windermere Mine main gate guardroom. “Later on the same day at around 9PM, the accused persons, acting in common purpose with the now deceased Mehluli Ncube, Khumbuzani Nyathi and Richard Fambirai Moyo proceeded to 02A Windermere Mine in Umguza.
“While there, three of the accused approached the complainant at the gate and requested entry into the mine premises under the pretext that they wanted to sell their gold,” said Ms Mutapi.
The court heard that the complainant turned down their request, stating that the mine does not buy gold.
“Appearing to have understood, the trio turned their backs and walked away from the gate as if they were leaving. Suddenly, they returned and aggressively rushed towards the complainant, this time armed with pistols. They pointed their firearms at the complainant and others in the guardroom, ordering them to lie on the floor and threatening to shoot anyone who resisted,” she said.
“One of the accused then took the complainant’s Datron communication radio valued at US$250, handcuffs valued at US$10 and a Huawei Prime 2019 Y9 cellphone valued at US$100,” said Ms Mutapi.
After that the quartet continued with their mission and approached another security guard and ordered him to lie on the floor.
“They demanded to know where gold was kept. During that period, the complainant was searched and they took his Samsung Galaxy cellphone valued at US$90. They took a safe box and dashed to the gate where they had parked their car and fled,” said Ms Mutapi.
On 26 June this year at around 9PM, a security guard was in his cottage at the same mine with his wife when the four accused persons pounced. “Two of the accused were armed with pistols and threatened to shoot anyone who refused to comply with their demands. The accused persons dragged the complainants to the director’s office where, upon arrival, they took US$1 000 and ZWG$1 000. They also took a safe box valued at US$300 and left the complainants locked inside the director’s office,” the court heard.
On September 17, 2026, detectives received information about the whereabouts of the accused persons, leading to their arrest.
In a separate case, Jubane appeared in court on Saturday charged with murder after he allegedly conspired with Mehluli Ncube, also known as Mamba, and Muzi Richard Fambirai Moyo, who died in a shoot-out with police officers, to murder the late businessman Mr Tedious Rutanhira. He is expected in court on September 25. Jubane is also facing an attempted robbery charge where he allegedly conspired with the late Mamba and Moyo and their accomplice, Bhekimpilo Mabuza, who is still at large to allegedly rob a lodge of US$265 at gunpoint. He is remanded in custody until October 1, 2026.
