Online Reporter
Zvikomborero Parafini
A GANG of armed robbers, accused of a series of armed robberies in which cash and property worth more than US$50,000 was stolen, was so desperate for cash they ended up stealing as little as US$10 from one of their victims.
One of the suspects, Witness Hongwane, was arrested on Friday and appeared at the Harare Magistrates’ Court yesterday.
He appeared before Magistrate Marewanazvo Gofa facing three counts of robbery and was remanded in custody to October 13.
Prosecutor Lawrence Gangarahwe represented the State. The court heard that Hongwane was arrested on Friday following investigations into the alleged robberies, during which he allegedly made voluntary indications showing police how the offences were committed.
His suspected accomplice, Dingani Mpofu, is already on remand facing the same charges.
In the first count, the State alleges that on June 29, this year, Hongwane and his accomplices, armed with two unidentified pistols, attacked complainant Sekeni Manyunguvadzi at his home around 10pm. The accused allegedly jumped over the precast wall, entered the yard and proceeded to the complainant’s bedroom, where they pointed a firearm at him.
They allegedly forced him to lie down, broke into a storeroom and stole a safe containing US$5,000, three motor vehicle keys, four registration books, a panic button and a title deed.
The stolen property was loaded into the complainant’s vehicle, which was later abandoned along Smith Crescent, approximately 200 metres from the scene.
Police subsequently recovered the vehicle and the safe, together with the other listed property, although the cash was missing.
The second count relates to an armed robbery at a company in the Richards Road area of Harare on July 1.
The complainant, Silon Chapadza, 32, was on night duty as a security guard when the accused and his accomplices, armed with rifles and pistols, allegedly attacked him.
They allegedly tied his hands and legs with shoelaces and pieces of cloth before covering his head with a work suit jacket.
The gang allegedly proceeded to the cash office, where they used explosives to blow open a safe and stole US$39,888, ZiG74,270 and R750, together with assorted whisky and soft drinks.
The accused persons allegedly fled in a getaway vehicle, leaving behind live ammunition, damaged cartridges, explosive materials and capped fuses.
Nothing was recovered from the second robbery. In the third count, the State alleges that on July 20, the accused and his accomplices, armed with AK rifles and pistols, raided Heliconvest Company (Pvt) Ltd at 973 Nursery Road, Mount Pleasant, Harare.
The gang allegedly scaled the perimeter wall before entering the premises and attacking employees and visitors.
They allegedly stole cash from several individuals, including US$10 from Blessed Mwanesayo, US$200 from William Socha and US$200 from Kudai Mapanzure.
Other complainants allegedly lost varying amounts of cash, while the accused persons also allegedly stole mobile phones, headphones, a tablet, a wristwatch valued at US$50,000 and company vehicle keys.
The gang allegedly located a safe containing US$37,694 and 11 mining certificates from the main bedroom before loading it into a Toyota Hilux.
The vehicle, registration number AGO 7110, was subsequently recovered on July 22.
The total value of property allegedly stolen across the three counts is listed as US$54,388, ZIG3,170 and R195, with US$89,422 recorded as recovered.
