Policeman denied bail

Jonga Gwasha (39) attached at Harare Central Police Station was denied bail by magistrate Mr Lazarus Murendo.
He was remanded to January 19 in the interim and trial date was set for February 2.
Prosecutor Ms Rutendo Manimanzi told the court that the State needed three weeks to secure a Kenyan and Rwandan interpreter for the trial to start.

Gwasha pleaded not guilty to robbery in aggravated circumstances, theft and robbery charges.
Ms Manimanzi alleges that on August 20 last year Gwasha in the company of three others still at large approached Desire Safari (44) at his house in Waterfalls.

The four, who were in civilian attire, indicated that they wanted to see Safari because they needed to search his house for guns.

The unsuspecting Safari led the four into his house where they flashed some identity cards.
They ordered him to surrender all the cash he had at gunpoint.
The gang got away with US$20 000 and proceeded to Zindoga Shopping Centre in Waterfalls where they manhandled Joseph Lyakarenye (54).

They stole US$840 from him before speeding off in their car.
On December 29 at around 10pm Gwasha in the company of five accomplices still at large went to Jefry Kaumba’s house in Braeside.

The gang was using a Toyota Corolla, which had no numberplates.
On arrival at the house they introduced themselves as police officers and told the occupants that they wanted to search the house.

Gwasha in the company of two others entered the house while others remained in the car.
Kaumba led them into his bedroom while Gwasha who was armed with a pistol and knife remained guarding people who were in the dining room.

The other two ransacked the bedroom where they stole US$7 000, R3 000 and a Nokia cellphone.
The following day Kaumba filed a police report.

Gwasha was arrested the same day at Waterfalls Police Station and Kaumba was called at the police station where he positively identified the suspect.