Online Reporter
Dalyn Chigwizura, Court Reporter
A 35-YEAR-OLD Gwanda man has appeared in court for allegedly teaming up with accomplices, who are still at large, to raid a supermarket in Bulawayo, before robbing workers of US$370 at gunpoint.
Philani Sibanda of Seshongwe Village appeared before Western Commonage regional magistrate Mr Pasipanodya Maturure facing a charge of armed robbery. He was remanded in custody to December 8 for trial.
Prosecuting, Ms Christina Manyika told the court that on July 26 at around 1PM, Sibanda and his accomplices drove to Hamara Supermarket in Pumula East suburb in a blue unregistered Honda Fit.
“The accused and his accomplices entered the supermarket with their faces covered in small balaclavas and armed with pistols. They ordered everyone inside the shop to lie down on the floor,” said Ms Manyika.
The court heard that Sibanda allegedly remained at the entrance guarding it while his accomplices went to the tills and took US$370 from the cash registers. The robbery was captured on the shop’s CCTV system.
On November 21, at around 10AM, detectives from CID Homicide in Bulawayo received a tip-off that Sibanda had been spotted at a local sports club.
They moved in and arrested him. Police also recovered a Girsan semi-automatic pistol (9mm Parabellum) loaded with 15 live rounds of ammunition. Police have since launched a manhunt for the other suspects.
