Online Reporter
Zvikomborero Parafini
A 27-year-old Harare man has appeared in court facing six counts of robbery after allegedly working with accomplices to target women who boarded his vehicle, robbing them of cash, cellphones and other valuables before dumping them along roadsides.
Joshua Ruchiki appeared before Harare Magistrate Ruth Moyo facing robbery charges.
He was remanded in custody pending finalisation of investigations.
The State alleges that between April and May this year, Ruchiki drove a pink Nissan Note, registration number AHG 1836, which was allegedly used to lure unsuspecting female passengers travelling from various parts of Harare.
Prosecutors allege that Ruchiki was acting in common purpose with Kimberly Kumbeze, Tanyaradzwa Nyashinga and another suspect identified only as Given Manhovo, who is still at large.
It is alleged that on April 14, a woman boarded the vehicle at the corner of Churchill Avenue and Hudson Road in Alexandra Park.
Along the way, the group allegedly robbed her of a cellphone and a handbag containing US$75 before abandoning her.
In a separate incident on April 28, another passenger was allegedly robbed of her cellphone and handbag after boarding the same vehicle along Second Street Extension in the Harare CBD.
The State further alleges that on May 2, another woman was robbed of two cellphones after boarding the vehicle along Quendon Road in Marlborough.
On May 7, the accused and his alleged accomplices are said to have struck again after picking up a passenger along King George Road in Avondale, allegedly stealing a Samsung A15 cellphone before dumping her.
The prosecution alleges that on May 20, two more women were targeted in separate incidents in Avondale and along Harare Drive near KK Tiles.
In one of the cases, the complainant allegedly lost an iPhone XR, while in the other, the group allegedly stole two cellphones, cash amounting to US$330 and other personal belongings.
Police investigations led to Ruchiki’s arrest, resulting in the recovery of the Nissan Note, several handbags and 10 wallets. Some of the recovered property was positively identified by complainants.
The total value of the stolen property is approximately US$12 000, with property worth about US$3 000 having been recovered.
The matter is still under investigation.
