Tendai Gukutikwa
Post Reporter
THE long arm of law has finally caught up with Mutare man, Jealous Mukorera, who had evaded justice for months, following his arrest on a string of violent offences.
Mukorera was arrested last week on charges of kidnapping, robbery, assault, and threats to commit violence.
He appeared before Mutare provincial magistrate, Mr Tendai Mahwe on Monday, and was denied bail, citing the seriousness of the offence and strength of the State case against him.
He was represented by Mr Chris Ndlovu, of Gonese and Ndlovu Legal Practitioners, while Mutare District Public Prosecutor, Mr Tirivanhu Mutyasira appeared for the State, and opposed bail.
Mr Mutyasira said Mukorera, along with his accomplices, Tatenda Chiudzu and Tafadzwa Mudzimwa, who were arrested earlier, kidnapped and robbed Malvin Kasecha and Tatenda Murahwa in Mutare Central Business District, and drove their victims to a house in Bordervale, where they assaulted and robbed them.
“On March 18, around 12pm, Mukorera, acting in concert with Chiudzu and Mudzimwa, who have already been arraigned in court on the same charge, proceeded to Franco Foods where they manhandled Kasecha, forcing him into a dark blue Mercedes Benz with an unknown registration number, driven by Mudzimwa.
“The accused persons took Kasecha to House Number 25, Alexander Road, Bordervale, Mutare, without his consent. Upon arrival, they ordered him into the dining room and instructed him to remove his pair of trousers. The accused persons took turns to assault Kasecha with a sjambok, accusing him of spreading rumours about seeing pictures of Chiudzu’s wife.
“The accused demanded US$50, and drove Kasecha to an EcoCash shop, where they ordered him to withdraw US$30 from his account. Kasecha was eventually released and reported the incident at ZRP Mutare Central. The total value of the prejudice is US$80, with nothing recovered.
“They also manhandled Murahwa, accusing him of showing Chiudzu’s nude pictures. The accused and his accomplices took turns to assault Murahwa with open hands and fists on the face, and unlawfully took US$35 from him. They forced him into their Chevrolet Trailblazer vehicle, and took him to a house in Bordervale. Once there, the accused ordered Murahwa to remove his shoes and assaulted him several times with a claw hammer on the toes, and clapped him on the face with open hands. Murahwa sustained a swollen face and bruises on the toes due to the assault. The total value stolen was US$35, with nothing recovered,” said Mr Mutyasira.
Mukorera and his accomplices allegedly kidnapped Alphus Ngwenya from his workplace in Mutare, accusing him of dating Chiudzu’s wife, and robbed him. “On March 18, around 12pm, Mukorera, accompanied by Chiudzu and Mudzimwa, proceeded to Ngwenya’s workplace, manhandled him, and accused him of having a love affair with Chiudzu’s wife. They assaulted Ngwenya several times with open hands and forced him into a white Nissan Caravan vehicle with an unknown registration number.
“They drove to the same house in Bordervale. The accused person assaulted the complainant with open hands and a sjambok all over his body. He used a claw hammer to hit the complainant’s toes. The complainant sustained injuries on the toes and bruises on the back due to the assault. He underwent a medical examination. The total value involved was US$130, with no recovery,” said Mr Mutyasira.
Mr Mutyasira further told the court that Mukorera instructed Tawanda Matara and other thugs to assault Ratidzo Tarumbwa. Tarumbwa had given some touts a lift from Rusape to Mutare, but dropped them off at a roadblock after receiving threatening phone calls.
“On March 18, around 3pm, Tarumbwa was driving along the Harare-Mutare Highway when he picked up two male adults in Rusape. They told him they were heading to Mutare. Tarumbwa received a call from a tout accusing him of picking up two rival touts. The caller threatened to report him to the police.
Tarumbwa dropped off the two touts near a roadblock. Upon arriving in Mutare, at the High Court bus stop, he was stopped by Mukorera’s accomplice, Matara, and others. They accused him of abandoning their colleagues along the way.
“Matara phoned Mukorera, reporting that they had apprehended the driver who dropped off his associates. Mukorera ordered Matara and his accomplices to assault the complainant, which they did, striking him several times all over the body with open hands,” said Mr Mutyasira. Mukorera also faces charges of robbing businessman, Nathan Manyuchi of US$4 970 early this year.
He allegedly committed the crime alongside Trust Chifamba, Nyllence Mhako, Munyaradzi Mundiho, Philip Mudavanhu, Rafiq Kariyo, and Hardlife Mushati. They also allegedly assaulted Manyuchi.
“On February 26, around 4pm, Manyuchi was seated in his Toyota Caravan (AFK 8557) at Ian Dickie Garage, Green Market, Mutare. Mukorera, acting in concert with his accomplices, assaulted Manyuchi, pulled him out of the vehicle, and took US$4 970, 300 meticais, and ZiG40 from his pair of trousers pocket. The accused persons used a torque bar to hit Manyuchi on the right leg, fracturing it. Witnesses to the offence included Manyuchi and Tinotenda Mlambo,” said Mr Mutyasira.
Mukorera is also accused of threatening violence against Michael Mapfumo, whom he alleged had a misunderstanding with his former wife.
Mapfumo sought refuge at Mutare Central Police Station as he was being chased by Mukorera, who allegedly uttered threats of violence in front of police officers.
“On February 20, around 4pm, Mapfumo was at Pick N Pay Supermarket along Herbert Chitepo Street, Mutare. Mukorera blocked Mapfumo’s Mercedes Benz (AGP 1414), and accused him of having a misunderstanding with his ex-wife in Dangamvura. A heated exchange ensued, and Mapfumo drove off at high speed, with Mukorera pursuing him in a silver Chevrolet to Mutare Central Police Station.
“Mapfumo parked his vehicle and sought refuge in the charge office, but Mukorera followed him inside. Mukorera told Mapfumo he was lucky to have sought refuge, threatening that he would catch up with him and burn his Mercedes Benz. Police officers witnessed and heard Mukorera threatening Mapfumo,” said Mr Mutyasira.
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