dyton mupawaenda
Yeukai Karengezeka Court Correspondent
A suspected member of the gang that robbed a motorist of his Honda Fit after they were given a lift from Ziko to Chitungwiza, has appeared in court.
He was arrested by police who tracked him down through the phone stolen from the driver.
Tapiwa Jonga (40), who is employed by a fast-foods company, appeared before Harare regional magistrate Mrs Marehwanazvo Gofa charged with robbery and was remanded to November 23.
Only the High Court can grant bail for robbery.
Prosecuting, Mr Pardon Dziva, alleged that on August 20, Jonga and his three accomplices who are still at large, were offered a lift at Giant Service Station at Ziko, in Seke, by Mr Onias Goto who was driving a Honda Fit.
The suspects were going to Chitungwiza.
Upon reaching Unit O, Seke, along the Dema-Chitungwiza Road, Jonga and his accomplices started punching Mr Goto, forcing him to stop.
They overpowered and handcuffed him as one of them assumed control of the vehicle.
The rest of the gang pulled Mr Goto to the rear seat, in between the seats, and drove the stolen vehicle to Mayambara Village, Seke, where they searched him and took his cellphone.
They tied his hands and legs with a rope and later dumped him in a drain in that village.
Mr Goto managed to untie himself and went to the police in Chitungwiza to make a report.
An application for a call history of the stolen cellphone was made with Econet Zimbabwe and the cellphone indicated that it was being used by Irvine Ronald Chikuwa, who was later located and interviewed.
Mr Chikuwa led the police to Erison Chapananga, who had sold him the cellphone.
And upon interrogation, Chapananga indicated that he bought the cellphone from Warren Mukiza, who then led the detectives to the arrest of Jonga, whom he claimed had given him the cellphone.
When Jonga was arrested, he failed to satisfactorily explain the source of the stolen cellphone.
Online Reporter