Danisa Masuku [email protected]
A lawyer representing one of the accused persons who allegedly conspired to steal five Honda Fit vehicles in separate incidents, stripping them for parts and, in some cases, setting the remaining shells on fire, has challenged the complainant to produce an agreement of sale and proof of the transaction.
Anisto Nkanyiso Nyoni (32) and Africa Dedani Ncube (33) both from Bulawayo’s Emganwini suburb appeared yesterday before Bulawayo Regional Magistrate Ms Sibonginkosi Mkandla facing five counts of motor vehicle theft.
They pleaded not guilty. Nyoni is legally represented by Mr Tinanshe Tashaya of Tashaya Law Chambers while Ncube is a self-actor.
In his defence, Mr Tashaya said: “He denies the crime in its entirety. He was not involved in any way. The complainant said the accused also participated in selling the car.
“I challenge the complainant to produce an agreement of sale and receipts showing that he (Nyoni) was involved. There is no proof whatsoever which links the accused to the crime.”
Ncube said on the day in question he was not in Bulawayo.
“On the day the robbery was committed I was not in Bulawayo and I got shocked when the detectives from ZRP’s Vehicle Theft Squad came and arrested me,” he said.
The matter was postponed to 16 October for continuation of trial. Prosecuting, Ms Hazel Ncube told the court that the first incident occurred on May 13, 2026, shortly after 11pm.
The first complainant parked his silver Honda Fit in the central parking bay along Jason Moyo Street, between 10th and 11th Avenue, before leaving the vehicle to relieve himself.
She said the complainant was arrested by police officers for urinating in public and taken to Bulawayo Central Police Station, leaving the vehicle unlocked with the keys in the ignition.
“During the complainant’s absence, the accused persons went to where the motor vehicle was parked, used the keys left in the ignition to start the engine and drove away,” Ms Ncube said.
The court heard that the accused allegedly removed the gearbox before burning the remaining vehicle. When the complainant returned, he discovered that the car had been stolen and reported the matter to the police. The vehicle was valued at US$5 000.
The prosecutor said a second incident occurred on May 15 at about 11.15pm when another complainant parked his white Honda Fit along Luveve 5 Road before leaving briefly to relieve himself in nearby bushes.
When the complainant returned about 15 minutes later, the motor vehicle was missing,” Ms Ncube said.
She alleged that the accused used duplicate keys to steal the vehicle before stripping out the engine and gearbox and burning what remained of it. The vehicle was valued at US$5 000. The court heard that on June 19, at about 8pm, a third complainant parked his white Honda Fit along a road a few metres from a house in Tshabalala suburb.
He locked the vehicle and took the keys with him. It is alleged that during the night the accused used unknown means to start the vehicle before driving it away.
They allegedly removed the gearbox, radiator and front wheels before abandoning the stripped vehicle in a bush in Emganwini. The vehicle, valued at US$5 000, was later recovered after the matter had been reported to the police.
In another incident on June 24 at about 8.15pm, a fourth complainant parked his white Honda Fit at Nketa 9 Shopping Centre after removing the battery and spare wheel and handing the keys to a security guard.
The accused allegedly used unknown means to steal the vehicle before stripping it of its gearbox, radiator and all four wheels. The shell was later dumped in a bush near Upper Rangemore in Umguza. The vehicle was valued at US$2 800. The court also heard that on July 7, at around 9pm, a fifth complainant parked his red Honda Fit at his home after securing it by locking all doors and windows, removing the battery and taking the keys with him before retiring to bed.
Despite these precautions, the accused allegedly stole the vehicle using unknown means. They are accused of removing the gearbox, radiator, both front wheels, the left headlamp and the cooling fan before abandoning the stripped vehicle in a bush at Martin’s Farm in Lower Rangemore.
The vehicle was valued at US$3 800. Investigations by detectives from the Vehicle Theft Squad led to the arrest of the two accused.
