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Mashudu Mambo
A 21-YEAR-OLD carjacker from Dete in Matabeleland North province has been convicted of carjacking after he stole two vehicles and assaulted the unsuspecting drivers on the pretext of being a customer.
Thabani Mlauzi pleaded not guilty to the charges, but was convicted by Bulawayo regional magistrate Joseph Mabeza.
He was remanded to Friday for sentencing.
The court heard that on 10 March 2024 at around 10pm, Mqondisi Sibanda (43) was pirating at sixth avenue along Luveve road when he met up with Mlauzi and his accomplices Malvin Moyo and
Last Sibanda, who are on the run.
The trio told Mqondisi that they wanted to go to Njube and he drove them to their destination.
When they arrived, Mlauzi strangled him with a string and struck him four times on the head with a hammer and he sustained injuries.
They then stole his cellphone and US$54 and dragged him out of the car and drove away. The matter was reported to the police and on 11 March 2024, the vehicle was found abandoned in Emakhandeni suburb. On 7 April, Mlauzi was arrested.
The second incident was on 16 March 2024 at around 7pm where Mlauzi and his accomplices approached Amos Dube, a pirate taxi driver who was waiting for customers at the corner of fifth Avenue and Herbert Chitepo.
They pretended to be going to New Parklands and they got into the vehicle. When they arrived at their destination, they strangled the victim with a string and stole his cellphone and US$197, they dragged him out of the car and drove off.
Dube reported the matter to the police and on 27 March at a 28 kilometre peg, close to Cross Dete-Binga, the culprits were stopped by the police at a roadblock and they ran away leaving the vehicle behind.
Mlauzi was arrested on 7 April 2024 and was positively identified by the victim during indications.
Online Reporter