Online Reporter
Yeukai Karengezeka-Chisepo
Court Correspondent
TWO men appeared in court yesterday for allegedly participating in a series of armed robberies, including the theft of US$108 000 from a Chinese-owned company in Ruwa.
Tinei Makaripe (47), who was carried into court after allegedly being assaulted by workers at the firm during the robbery, is jointly charged with Pungurai Mukambachaza (49) on three counts of armed robbery.
The two were advised to apply for bail at the High Court and were remanded to September 29.
Makaripe has admitted to one of the charges and may be separated from his co-accused for plea recording at the next court appearance.
Prosecutor Mr Lawrence Gangarahwe alleged that on September 13, 2026, the accused persons, together with accomplices who are still at large, hatched a plan to rob the complainant, Zhan Lingyue, a 24-year-old Chinese national.
Acting in common purpose, the accused persons, who were armed with pistols, allegedly proceeded to Xinda Castings in Ruwa, where they scaled the precast wall to gain entry.
Once inside the premises, they allegedly entered a changing room and put on company work suits and helmets, pretending to be employees.
They then allegedly confronted two workers who had gone to the toilet and force-marched them to the offices.
The court heard that the accused persons broke into an office where they confronted Zhan and demanded cash.
They allegedly ransacked the office before taking a satchel containing US$108 000.
As they fled, the accused persons allegedly used a metal ladder to scale the precast wall.
Other workers, who had by then become alert, reportedly threw stones at the fleeing suspects.
Makaripe, who was running behind his accomplices, was allegedly struck by a brick and fell to the ground.
He was immediately apprehended by the workers while his accomplices escaped.
Police investigations later led to the arrest of Mukambachaza at his residence, where US$4 900 was allegedly recovered.
On the second count, the court heard that on June 22, 2026, the accused persons and their accomplices allegedly targeted Redan Service Station in Glaudina.
The suspects, who were allegedly armed with pistols and wearing balaclavas, confronted two fuel attendants, Natasha Zvingana and Louis Mawere, as well as security guard Tafara Chipandire.
They allegedly searched Chipandire and stole an Itel A90 cellphone, a security panic baton and pepper spray.
The fuel attendants allegedly surrendered US$500, while Redan fuel coupons were also stolen.
On the third count, it is alleged that on September 12, 2026, the accused persons and their accomplices targeted Kurima Centre at Number 521 Access Road, Msasa.
The court heard that the suspects, who were allegedly armed with a pistol, iron bars, machetes, and a bolt cutter, scaled the perimeter wall and proceeded to the offices.
Security guards Saymore Mudziwepasi and Ibraham Milanzi, who were on duty, reportedly spotted the suspects and fired shots into the air in an attempt to scare them away.
However, the accused persons allegedly continued with their plan and broke into several offices.
They did not steal anything as a Safeguard reaction team arrived at the scene, forcing them to flee.
