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Lisa Mangena, Court Reporter
A 29-year-old man and a 13-year-old minor from Bulawayo who were part of a gang of hooligans that looted and burnt shops during violent protests that took place in January have been arrested.
The gang caused destruction valued at $113 000.
Bhekani Mpamba and the minor, who cannot be named for ethical reasons, both of Old Pumula suburb appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Mrs Sibonginkosi Mkandla facing three counts of public violence or alternatively unlawful entry and theft.
The two denied the charges.
Mpamba was remanded in custody while the teen was remanded out of custody to Friday for commencement of trial.
The court heard the two were part of a mob that fled from the scene and other suspects were still at large.
Prosecuting Mr Simbarashe Manyiwa said on January 14 the duo together with their co- accused went to Old Pumula supermarket owned by Mr Antony Chikwata at around 10PM, armed with stones.
“The mob threw stones at people and broke into the shop where they took groceries and stationery before setting the shop on fire. When police officers arrived at the scene, the boy fled but was seen by one of the residents who made a report at Pumula Police Station,” he said.
He was brought to the police station by his mother on January 20 and she implicated Mpamba, the court heard.
The value of the damaged property is $35 000 and that of the stolen property was $21 000.
On the same day the two and their co-accused looted and burnt a pharmacy that was managed by Mr Clement Ndlovu.
Mr Manyiwa said the mob broke into the pharmacy at around 11PM.
“They stole three computer sets, four office chairs, various drugs, two thermal printers, one software disc, one generator and some cosmetics and set the pharmacy on fire,” he said.
The mob destroyed property worth $51 000 and stole property worth $6 000 before breaking into Ms Edith Mpofu’s shop.
They took groceries and set the shop on fire said the prosecutor.
Following a tip off, police arrested Mpamba on Sunday last week at Old Pumula beer garden.
– @LissahMangena
Online Reporter