Magistrate’s hubby faces robbery charges

of committing a spate of robberies in Marondera, Macheke and the capital.
The magistrate’s brother was also arrested.
Patrick Madondo (32), the husband of magistrate Mrs Patience Ururu-Madondo who is based at the Harare Magistrates’ Civil Court, was yesterday under police guard at Marondera Hospital where he is getting treatment for the dog bites.
Another of his co-accused, Dennis Nyakudya (19), is also under police guard in the same institution.
Madondo’s brother Learnmore and Mrs Ururu-Madondo’s brother – Peter Ururu – have since appeared in court and were remanded in custody to next Monday.
Marondera magistrate Miss Blessing Murwisi said they should approach the High Court for bail.
They were arrested last week after allegedly stealing signal cables belonging to the National Railways of Zimbabwe. Police say they recovered three bundles of cables measuring 462 metres each.
It is alleged that when the net closed in on them, Madondo and Nyakudya fled from police, who set dogs on them.
The two were mauled and had to be hospitalised.
Appearing for the State, prosecutor Ms Moline Mutamangira said on February 9, Madondo, Nyakudya, Learnmore and Ururu stole signal cables.
Learnmore and Ururu were already out on remand on other charges when the NRZ theft was allegedly committed.
It is the State’s case that the offence was committed near the 114km peg along the Harare-Mutare Road.
NRZ security guards allegedly confronted them, but they fired two gun shots and fled.
Learnmore was found in the bush where the cables had been hidden, the State says.
His arrest, it is alleged, led police to his brother Patrick and Nyakudya.
Ururu was arrested separately.
Madondo and Nyakudya have two pending cases, which they allegedly committed with Learnmore and Ururu in Macheke.
These involve theft of TelOne cables.
The Police CID Homicide section in Harare also wanted them in connection with six armed robbery cases.