Online Reporter
Yeukai Karengezeka
Court Correspondent
A MAN suspected to be part of a gang involved in a US$129 111 robbery at a Harare service station has appeared in court.
Kudakwashe Dzapasi (42) appeared before Harare magistrate Mrs Tilda Mazhande, who advised him to apply for bail at the High Court.
Prosecutor Mr Lancelot Mutsokoti said on March 3 at around 10:30am, Dzapasi, in collaboration with accomplices Willard Zvinorukwa, Ernest Manzunzu, Boniface Masora, Simbarashe Vheremu, Munyaradzi Gurure, and Mike Mutumba—who appeared in court on March 11, as well as other suspects still at large—devised a plan to rob cash collections from Meru Service Station in Harare.
The gang armed themselves with a 9mm Star pistol and machetes before targeting the Meru Service Station in Kuwadzana.
Dzapasi, driving a silver Nissan AD Van, played a key role in the operation.
The suspects aimed to confront Hillary Hufa, a cashier responsible for collecting cash from the Mbare, Kuwadzana, and Whitehouse branches of Meru Service Station.
As Hufa approached his vehicle carrying US$129 111 in cash, the gang sprang into action. They first overpowered Zindoga Jiri, a security guard on duty, disarming him and taking his .38 revolver, which was loaded with three rounds. They then confronted Hufa, brandishing a pistol and demanding he drop the satchel containing the cash.
The gang made their escape in their getaway vehicle.
On March 11, detectives tracked Dzapasi to the Cross Musami Shopping Centre in Murehwa. Acting on intelligence, they apprehended him at the location. Following his arrest, Dzapasi led police to recover items he had bought with the stolen money, including a Nissan AD Van valued at US$5 700, as well as a bed, wardrobe, and kitchen unit.
So far, of the US$129 111 stolen, US$30 272 has been recovered.
