Police bust suspected robbery syndicate

Gerald Manyora (27), Joseph Mudimba Muzamba (46), David Nkosi Ncube (27) and Mabutho Ncube (30) were arrested recently on allegations of draining hundreds of litres of diesel from the mobile operator’s boosters dotted around Bulawayo.
Manyora, of Number 103 Balfour Road, Bellevue, Muzamba of 58111/1 Mabutweni, Ncube and Mabutho, both of 58223/3 Mabutweni, allegedly connived with Darlington Nkiwane and Aaron Tshuma who are still at large to break into the boosters at night.
They would allegedly arm themselves with axes and assault security guards whom they would tie and carry to a distance away from the booster before returning to drain the fuel into 10-litre containers.
After filling their containers, they would allegedly phone their colleagues who would transport the loot to Mabutweni or Pelandaba where they kept it.
The offences were committed starting early this month.
Quideck Security Company guards the Econet Wireless boosters.
Manyora, Muzamba, Ncube and Mabutho yesterday appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Mrs Rosemary Dube facing three counts of robbery, one of theft and another of criminal trespassing.
They were not formally charged with                         the offences with Manyora, Ncube and                         Mabutho remanded in custody while Mudimba           was released on his own cognisance because he is ill.
They will all next appear in court on 5 March.
Allegations against the accused persons                                  are that on 3 February at about 1am, Muzamba and Ncube in the company of Nkiwane went to Trenance armed with an axe where they manhandled Mr Munashe Diza, a security guard manning the booster.
The court heard that Mr Diza blew an alarm whistle and was in turn struck on the head with the back of an axe by Ncube and he fell unconscious.
The duo allegedly tied Mr Diza and dumped him near Trenance Primary School before going back to the booster where they drained and filled seven 25-litre containers with diesel.
Mr Diza was rescued by a Catholic priest who heard him screaming for help and he later made a report to the police.
On 5 February at about 1am, Manyora, Muzamba, Ncube and Mabutho allegedly hatched a plan to steal diesel from a booster near Moray Primary School in Famona.
It is alleged they went with 15 containers of about 25 litres each and had filled 11 of the containers with the diesel when they were disturbed by the duty security guard. They fled into the darkness with some of the filled containers.
The following night, the two, in the company of Tshuma, went to a booster in Newton West where they manhandled Mr Josphat Ncube, the security guard, whom they searched and took away a cellphone before striking him with an unidentified object. They then allegedly dumped him in a nearby bush.
They allegedly drained diesel and filled 10 by 25-litre containers and phoned their colleague who ferried it to Mabutweni.
Two days later, the three fled from a booster in Kumalo after a security guard phoned his superiors who went to the scene using a motorbike.
It is alleged that on 12 February, Manyora, Muzamba, Ncube and Mabutho went to Mpopoma armed with an axe and threatened a security guard who was manning a booster near Mpumelelo Primary School with death.
They searched him and took away a whistle and $20 cash before draining 200 litres of diesel.
The police arrested them on Tuesday last week after investigations and they led the police to a stream in Mabutweni where 13 by 25-litre containers of diesel were recovered. 
The court heard that the four stole 990 litres of fuel with an estimated value of more than a thousand dollars.
Mr Jeremiah Mutsindikwa appeared for the State.