Online Reporter
Lesley Chikudo and Trish Mukwazo
A 34-YEAR-OLD Bulawayo man who allegedly teamed up with accomplices to commit a series of armed robberies, including one at a funeral parlour where they tied up security guards using shoelaces, has appeared in court.
Clifford Desmond Nare of Cowdray Park suburb who appeared before Western Commonage regional magistrate Mrs Sibongile Marondedze, was not asked to plead and was remanded in custody.
Nare is facing three counts of robbery, allegedly committed on the same night at different places. His suspected accomplices, Sipho Ncube, Dumisani Ndlovu and Cordias Nkomo are still at large.
The prosecutor, Clifford Desmond Nare, said the first incident took place around midnight on March 10. Nare and his accomplices allegedly travelled in a white Honda Fit (registration AGG 8380) driven by an individual identified only as Munangati and targeted Pure Gas.
“The accused, armed with two pistols, a knife and a rifle disarmed one of the security guards of his shotgun,” said Mr Moyo.
The gang allegedly assaulted and dragged the guards into an office, fired one shot and used the pistol butt to beat the guards while demanding cash and valuables. They then tied the guards’ hands and legs using shoelaces before fleeing empty-handed. The victims later freed themselves and reported the matter at ZRP Western Commonage.
In the second incident, which occurred the same night, the gang allegedly stormed Kings and Queens Funeral Services in Kelvin North, Bulawayo. Armed with pistols, they again assaulted and tied up the security guards with shoelaces.
“The accused broke a window to gain entry into the offices, forced open the strong room and used a grinder to open a steel safe,” said Mr Moyo.
The gang allegedly stole a Huawei cellphone worth US$90, US$3 608 and R21 130. Only the cellphone has since been recovered.
Police have since launched a manhunt for the other suspects.
Meanwhile, in an unrelated incident, a 33-year-old Bulawayo man employed at a local butchery appeared in court on Wednesday facing charges of stock theft after he was allegedly found with 243kg of soiled meat stored inside the butchery’s cold room.
Tapiwa Marava of North End suburb, who works at Prime Meats Butchery in the city centre, was arrested after he failed to account for the meat.
He appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Mrs Evia Matura and was remanded out of custody to May 14 on US$50 bail.
Prosecutor Ms Mufaro Ndirayire told the court that on April 29 at around 7AM, Marava was found in possession of 243,75kg of deboned, soiled meat which was in a plastic dish inside the butchery’s cold room.
“Upon being asked to produce receipts and relevant documentation by the complainant, the accused person failed to give a satisfactory explanation regarding the origins of the meat,” said Ms Ndirayire.
A police report was made leading to Marava’s arrest. The meat was condemned and destroyed.
Bongani Ndlovu