Online Reporter
Danisa Masuku [email protected]
A witness testifying in the case involving two police officers and eight artisanal miners told the court that they covered his head with sacks and tied his hands with rope before allegedly robbing them.
The police officers stationed at ZRP Inyathi – Tarifirenyika Mafuruse (45) and Privilege Dliwayo (32), together with Ignitious Gwadzoka, Tobias Chinedza, Tatenda Chiruka, Thomas Chiwedza, Austine Makuluni (32), Munyaradzi Tachi, Johannes Dumbu and Evans Kazimira, appeared on Tuesday before Bulawayo Regional Magistrate Mr Mathew Mutiro facing armed robbery charges.
The accused persons were represented by their lawyers, Tinashe Tashaya of Tinashe Law Chambers,
Tinashe Runganga of Tanaka Law Chambers and Ashley Duri of Pundu and Partners.
Testifying in court, the witness told how the accused persons held them, covered their faces with sacks and tied their hands before robbing them.
“They blocked a truck we were travelling in, one of them pointed a gun at us and demanded money. But I told them I had no money and they took my two phones,” said the witness.
The witness further told the court that he could identify some of the accused but could not identify others as they had covered their faces with masks.
The witness told the court that they frightened him by opening fire on the ground while demanding money.
The matter was postponed to October 14 next month for continuation of trial.
Prosecuting, Mr Owen Mugari told the court that on March 4, 2026, at around 5pm, the accused persons, acting in concert and with a common purpose, proceeded to Inyathi–Gloag gravel road and mounted an unsanctioned security roadblock while wearing camouflage combat gear and armed with a police FN rifle.
“While manning the unsanctioned roadblock, they blocked and stopped a white Howo 30-tonne truck, registration AGV 0301, loaded with 81 bags of carbon, which was en route to Feing Mining at Esigodini. The truck belongs to a Chinese company, YUAN HUA Pvt Ltd, located in Inyathi, Matabeleland North Province. The carbon-loaded truck was being escorted by a Toyota Hilux GD6, registration AGW 2940, with four Chinese occupants,” said Mr Mugari.
He told the court that the accused persons fired a shot on the ground.
“After that, they deflated the Toyota Hilux tyres, manhandled the complainants, tied their hands behind their backs, took their cell phones and locked them inside the Toyota Hilux. The accused persons hijacked the truck loaded with carbon and drove it to a mine situated in Kenilworth, Inyathi,” said Mr Mugari.
