Robbers busted

Nyore Madzianike

DETECTIVES from the Vehicle Theft Squad on Thursday swiftly busted a four-member gang of suspected armed robbers that had unleashed a one-night reign of terror on five people in Harare on Wednesday.

Praise Ngonidzashe Mundoringisa (22), who was a waiter at Rainbow Towers Hotel in Harare; Owen Pfani (35); Denford Kasambarare (37); and Nigel Regis Rongai (22) were arrested after they had allegedly robbed five people in Waterfalls while posing as detectives from the Harare Central Police Station.

They were allegedly using a white Toyota Belta (AEH 3078).

Yesterday, the four appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Donald Ndirowei charged with five counts of armed robbery.

They were not asked to plead and were remanded in custody to November 30.

They were also advised to approach the High Court for bail application.

It is the State’s case that on November 8, around 10pm, Mundoringisa, Pfani, Kasambarare and Rongai armed themselves with an irritant hand grenade and taser. They also had handcuffs and police identity cards.

The court heard that they then drove to Waterfalls, where they are said to have approached Mr Shadreck Bangura, who was driving a Honda Fit (AFR 8256) belonging to Ms Brenda Chikopisi.

They pretended to have arrested him on allegations of committing robberies using the car.

Mr Shadreck Bangura was in the company of Mr Mairos Bangura and another person in the vehicle.

The State alleges the gang ordered Shadreck to drive to his place of residence.

Upon arrival, they started demanding cash and groceries before robbing him of the Honda Fit.

As if that was not enough, the four took Mairos to his home, where they also allegedly robbed him of groceries and US$200.

Mundoringisa and his gang are said to have frogmarched the third person who was in the Honda Fit to his place of residence, saying he was under arrest for robbery.

They then robbed him of groceries.

According to the State, the gang also went to Ms Chikopisi’s home on the same night.

It is said they threatened to arrest her for hiring people to use her car to commit crimes.

The court heard that they told Ms Chikopisi that she could be jailed for 40 years for assisting in committing crimes.

According to the State, the four demanded US$1 000 as ransom from her for them to release Shadreck.

When Ms Chikopisi indicated that she had no money, the four were infuriated and allegedly started assaulting her.

After realising that she indeed had no money, the suspected robbers turned on her partner, Mr Edison Sanangura, whom they robbed of US$100 and drove away in their car and the Honda Fit.

Mr Shadreck later reported the case to the police, who promptly tracked the gang and apprehended them whilst they were allegedly on their way to another target.