Online Reporter
Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau
POLICE in Beitbridge have arrested two men believed to be part of an armed robbery gang that has been terrorising residents in the border town after they raided four shops at Lutumba Growth Point, about 20km north of the border.
The gang would reportedly hide their firearm and ammunition on the banks of the Limpopo River after committing the crimes.
Gerald Chihovo (25) and Takudzwa Hlongwane (18), both of no fixed abode, appeared before Beitbridge provincial magistrate Miss Brenda Kachepa, facing charges of robbery. They were remanded in custody for a joint trial at the regional court on January 2 next year.
The two are accused of stealing at gunpoint, property worth a combined R11 420 and US$440 from four complainants on November 19.
Prosecuting, Miss Olivia Chamutinya said that on the day in question, at around 7pm, Chihovo and Hlongwane, together with their accomplices only identified as Dread, Washington and Kedha, entered the first shop armed with pistols.
Inside the shop, one of the accused pointed a pistol at the complainant’s head and demanded cash. They managed to steal one purple Itel mobile phone (serial number unknown) with a NetOne SIM card and cash amounting to R1 000, leaving the complainant locked inside the shop. The stolen items were valued at R3 800.
The court further heard that on the same date, at around 7:45pm, the gang proceeded to J & M Siphali General Dealer at Lutumba, Beitbridge. One of them, Dread, produced a black pistol and threatened to kill the complainant while demanding cash. The complainant surrendered R200.
They then moved to another homestead where, upon arrival, they pointed a pistol at the complainant, demanding cash and asking to see her husband. They force-marched her into the bedroom, searched her wardrobe drawers and stole R1 020, US$440 and a black Samsung A04s mobile phone with a Buddie SIM card before fleeing.
The prosecutor further alleged that at around 8:30pm on the same day, the accused proceeded to another homestead and stole a Huawei Nova 9 mobile phone with a NetOne SIM card and a power bank, all valued at R5 200, using the same method.
All the incidents were reported to the police, who arrested Hlongwane and Chihovo at a drinking spot in the border town following a tip-off.
During interrogations, the accused led police to a point along the Limpopo River where they used to hide firearms.
Officers recovered five 9mm live rounds of ammunition buried in the riverbed sand. The firearm was not recovered, and the accused implicated their accomplices, who are still at large.
