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Zvikomborero Parafini
AN armed robber, who is a member of a gang which attacked a number of service stations in Harare and Chitungwiza, was back in court yesterday facing fresh robbery charges.
Tafadzwa Reuben Mutamiri was brought to court from remand prison and appeared before Harare magistrate Donald Ndirowei.
He was remanded in custody to July 22.
The court heard that on February 6, Mutamiri and his accomplices, who are already on remand, connived and robbed Innocent Maplanka at Zuva Service Station in Bluffhill, Harare.
They were armed with various pistols.
They confronted Maplanka, who is a fuel attendant, at the service station.
They fired several shots in the air, forcing Maplanka and his workmates to flee, leaving their daily takings in the office.
The gang then stole US$438 before fleeing the scene.
On February 10, the gang attacked Petro Trade Service Station in Mabvuku, armed with firearms and iron bars.
They allegedly manhandled two security guards.
They searched the two guards and stole their cellphones and cash.
They confronted and manhandled Levy Badza, the fuel attendant, and threatened him with their weapons while force marching to the safe.
They made several attempts to blast the safe but failed before they searched him and stole US$185 and a Samsung M12 cellphone.
The company’s alarm systems were triggered whereupon the gang panicked and fled.
On March 8, they attacked Lovemore Ngirazi, who was a fuel attendant at Puma Service Station, and robbed him of US$150.
It is alleged that on March 29 they robbed Ruvarashe Kwaramba at Chinhamo Fuel Service Station in Chitungwiza.
They blasted the safe and stole US$10 264 that was inside the offices.
On April 10, they allegedly broke into George Machona’s house in Greendale.
They confronted him and threatened him with their pistols.
They ransacked the house and stole US$1 650, 14 pairs of shoes, a Samsung Galaxy A11 cellphone, a Huawei P20 lite cellphone, a Samsung Galaxy Note 9 cellphone, a tablet cellphone, a Dell laptop and a 55-inch television set
They loaded their loot into Machona’s car and fled.
Eight gang members were arrested after a shootout and implicated Mutamiri.
Online Reporter