admin
Gibson Mhaka
A National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) security guard who was deployed in Nyamandlovu allegedly betrayed the trust of his employer when he reportedly teamed up with seven accomplices and allegedly stole 49 steel rails and seven signal relay gadgets worth more than $350 000.
Edmore Muronza (40) is said to have teamed up with Greatman Dube (29), driver of a truck that was used to transport the stolen property, Muchengeti Takawira (35) who was hired to cut the steal railways using cutting torches and Marvelous Kwanele Sibanda (25), Isiah Bvumbunu (26), Kudakwashe Forichi (35) Emmanuel Ncube (25) and Takudzwa Chisango (40) who were also hired to load the stripped railway tracks onto a truck.
The eight accused persons who were arrested on 17 September at Grants Siding in Nyamandlovu following a tip-off by members of the public who had spotted their vehicle travelling along the railway line were hauled before Tsholotsho magistrate Regis Mawarire facing charges of Contravening Section 113 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23. They were, however, not asked to plead and were remanded out of custody to 6 October on $2 000 bail each.
Allegations against the accused persons as read by the State being represented by prosecutor Billiard Muguwu are that on the day in question and at around 3PM they teamed up and proceeded to Grants Siding where they cut 38 steel rails using gas and cutting torches.
It is reported that after running out of gas they went on to use picks and shovels to dig the steel rails. They also reportedly took seven signal relay gadgets which contain copper.
The accused persons later ran out of luck when they were arrested near Nyamandlovu Primary School after police received a tip-off from suspicious members of the public who had seen their vehicle travelling along the railway line.
Muronza reportedly tried to run away and resist arrest but to no avail.
Upon their arrest 49 steel rails and seven signal relays were recovered loaded in the truck. The apparatus that were used in the commission of the offence that include a gas cylinder, oxygen bottle, cutting torches, pick and shovels were also recovered.
The value of the recovered property is $354 240.
Online Reporter