Online Reporter
Yeukai Karengezeka-Chisepo
Court Correspondent
A MAN from Harare has appeared in court facing two counts of armed robbery after he allegedly robbed a bar and a grocery shop in separate incidents in Epworth on the same night.
Peter Gawa (31) appeared before Harare regional magistrate Mrs Jesse Kufa on Monday facing two counts of armed robbery and was remanded in custody.
The State alleges that on August 5, 2026, at around 8 pm, Gawa and his accomplices, who are still at large, hatched a plan to rob Lakeside Bar in Epworth.
It is alleged that one of the accomplices entered the bar pretending to be a customer intending to buy beer using EcoCash.
While the transaction was taking place, two other men allegedly confronted a security guard who was entering the premises from outside.
The State alleges that Gawa, who was speaking to bar attendant Sithabile Ncube, jumped over the counter and grabbed a cardboard box containing US$510.
He allegedly also stole a 10 000mAh power bank, eight 750ml bottles of Red Label whisky and 12 750ml bottles of Amarula.
The court heard that the gang assaulted Ncube before fleeing from the scene.
A police report was subsequently made, and investigations led detectives to information that one of the stolen cellphones was being used, resulting in Gawa’s arrest.
The total value of property allegedly stolen from the bar was US$912. On the second count, the State alleges that at around 8:30 pm on the same day, Gawa and his accomplices proceeded to Raah Auction Groceries.
Upon arrival, they allegedly confronted shop attendant Kudazaishe Mazanhi, who was closing the premises. The gang allegedly pointed a black pistol at Mazanhi and threatened to shoot him if he made any noise.
They allegedly forced him back into the shop before demanding cash. The court heard that the accused and his accomplices ransacked the premises and allegedly stole US$300 from the till, an Itel S36 Pro cellphone and an Itel A27 cellphone that was in Mazanhi’s pocket.
Mazanhi later reported the matter to ZRP Epworth. On August 13, detectives from CID Homicide allegedly received information that one of the stolen cellphones was being used by Liberty Madhochi.
Upon being interviewed by police, Madhochi allegedly told detectives that he had received the cellphone from Gawa. The total value of property allegedly stolen from the grocery shop was US$750.
