Online Reporter
Yeukai Karengezeka
Court Correspondent
FIVE armed robbers were jailed for an effective nine years each for hijacking a vehicle and stripping its occupants of valuables worth thousands of dollars.
Wayne Musanyera (22), Ibrahim Banda (25), Joe Tichatyei (33), Nyasha Chidhakwa (24) and Ahashi Mutetwa (26) were found guilty by Harare regional magistrate Mr Donald Ndirowei of robbing Brighton Tennie, MacDonald Kakwela, Ephraim Mungwerera and Isaac Lloyd.
Prosecutor Mr Tendai Tapi presented evidence that on the night of September 11 last year, at around 11pm, the four victims were travelling in a Toyota Platz along Delport Road near Mabvuku Turn-off.
The arrested robbers, along with an accomplice who is still at large, set an ambush by rolling large stones onto the road to force the vehicle to stop.
When the car stopped, the robbers began pelting the car with stones, forcing the driver, Isaac Lloyd to flee on foot, leaving his three friends behind in the vehicle.
The robbers attacked the passengers, stealing a Redmi cellphone and US$40 in cash from Tennie, an iPhone X from Kakwela and a Samsung A31 cellphone from Mungwerera.
The gang then commandeered the vehicle, with Banda taking the wheel, before abandoning it at Domboramwari near the Balancing Rocks in Epworth, where it was eventually found.
A report was made to the police and the case was referred to the CID Vehicle Theft Squad, Harare.
Investigations led to the arrest of Tichatyei, who revealed the identities of his accomplices.
The rest of the gang was apprehended at their residences in Epworth, while Tichatyei and Chidhakwa were captured after a high-speed foot chase in Mbare’s Tsiga area.
One suspect, known only as “Shortie”, managed to escape and remains at large.
Further investigations led detectives to Ronald Chigeza, who was found in possession of an iPhone X and a Redmi cellphone.
Chigeza admitted to buying the stolen items from Musanyera and Tichatyei in Epworth.
The total value of stolen property was estimated at US$6 500, with US$5 300 worth of valuables recovered.
