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Danisa Masuku
TWO youthful armed robbers who allegedly went on a robbery spree targeting Honda Fit drivers, assaulting them and stealing their cash, cellphones and vehicles have appeared in court.
Last Sibanda (22) and Malvin Roland Nyoni (23) appeared before Bulawayo regional magistrate Collet Ncube facing three counts of armed robbery.
They pleaded guilty to all counts and were remanded in custody to 2 May for sentencing. The court heard that on 10 March this year at around 10pm, Sibanda and Nyoni who were armed with an iron bar and hammer met Mqondisi Sibanda (43) pirating along 6th Avenue.
They hired Sibanda and told him they wanted to go to Njube suburb and he drove them there. The court heard that when they were in Njube they strangled Mqondisi with a rope and attacked him with a hammer on the head.
After collapsing, he was searched by the robbers who stole US$54 and his cellphone. They then dragged him from the car and drove away in it.
Later on Mqondisi gained consciousness and walked to a police station where he reported the incident. Police from the Vehicle Theft Squad (VTS) section carried out investigations and found the vehicle dumped along Siyephambili Road near a church.
On 16 March the court heard that the trio met Amos Dube (43) while he was driving a Honda Fit at the corner 5th Avenue and Herbert Chitepo Street. It is said they hired Dube and asked him to transport them to Parklands suburb and he drove them there.
When they reached Parklands suburb they strangled him with a rope and searched him. They took US$197 and dragged him out of his car before they drove away in it. The matter was reported to the police and investigations were made leading to the recovery of the car.
On 6 April the two armed robbers met Itai Chitiyo pirating with a Honda Fit at corner Fort Street and Leopold Takawira Avenue. They hired him and asked him to ferry them to North End suburb. The court learnt that when they reached the suburb they took out a rope and strangled him with it before they dragged him out of his car. They took his US$63 and cellphone before they drove-off in his car. Chitiyo reported the matter at Khumalo Police Station. The duo was arrested on 10 April and Chitiyo’s car was also recovered.
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