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Mashudu Mambo
THE trial date of six accused persons who are faced with 10 counts of armed robbery, theft, kidnapping and unlawful entry has been set for 5 November.
Silence Kwangwa (30) from Trenance suburb, Julias Mugwagwa (28) from Cowdray Park suburb, Edzai Madondo (36) from New Magwegwe suburb, Douglas Rizani (32) from Glenview 7, Harare, Wellington Ndoro (54) from Nkulumane suburb and Felias Mvula from Mzilikazi suburb appeared before Bulawayo regional magistrate Joseph Mabeza.
They pleaded not guilty to the charges and were remanded in custody for commencement of trial.
Allegations against the gang are that on 18 October 2023, the culprits raided Goodwill and Kudzai Mbira’s house at around 2am.
Some of the culprits fed the dogs with some poison while others were cutting the razor wire and they scaled over the precast wall and entered the premises.
The gang used the kitchen window to enter the house and they proceeded to the couple’s bedroom armed with axes, iron bars, machetes and a pistol and tried to open the door.
Their efforts were in vain and they ordered the couple to open the door but they declined. The gang axed the door and broke it into pieces.
They told the couple that they knew that they had a lot of money which they had saved to buy a tractor and they stole more than R60 000 and US$2 000 from the safe.
One of the suspects demanded more money and threatened to rape Kudzai, she fought back and he released her.
They proceeded to steal an IPhone 14, Huawei P30 lite, Huawei P40 lite, Huawei P20 Lite, Huawei P10 and a Samsung Galaxy A32. The other suspects proceeded to the fridge and stole 10 kilograms of beef and left the scene.
The total value of the stolen property was US$ 6 800 and two cellphones worth $1 100 were recovered.
Furthermore, on 15 November 2023 at around 6pm, the gang proceeded to Chukwujekwu Egwin, Kenneth Ifeanyi and Ikie Dandazi’s residence in Selbourne Park suburb. The gang took advantage of the precast wall which was still under construction and entered the yard.
One of the suspects knocked and Dandazi opened the door. The culprit who was holding a pistol fired one warning shot at the wall and forced everyone to lie down, they all complied.
They tied Dandazi’s hands with a USB cable and started ordering him around and demanded some valuables.
Dandazi surrendered US$80 and R500 but they demanded more claiming that it was too little. The gang assaulted him with slaps and he asked Egwin to give them some money if he had it.
Egwin surrendered his Samsung Note 9 and US$ 150, they went on to take two cellphones that were on the sofa.
The culprits were not satisfied with the amount they got and they went on to ask Egwin to go and open a safe at his shop in the central business district.
He was forced into his Toyota Pro box and one of the culprits drove towards the city centre leaving the other two culprits in the house guarding the family while the other two were driving behind in a getaway car belonging to Kwanga.
While they were driving to the city centre, the culprits got instructions to abort the mission and they diverted the route and drove the victim around until they dumped him in a bushy area in Richmond suburb.
The victim was injured and a good Samaritan took him to Entumbane Police Station.
Moreover, they went to Future Ndebele’s house in Cowdray park suburb and gained entry into the house after poisoning the dogs.
They went on to tie his siblings and maid with shoelaces and they stole a laptop, a cell phone, R11 820, US$500, two cases of Castle Lite beer and two cases of Corona beer and left the scene.
Furthermore, on 29 November 2024 at around 2am they proceeded to Sharon Dube’s house where they poisoned the dogs and gained entry.
While they were inside, they entered the victim’s room, torched her face and pointed a pistol at her head and demanded money.
She directed them to a chest of drawers where they stole US$800 and this angered them as they expected more.
They went on to assault the victim with open hands, tied her hands with shoelaces, threatened to set her ablaze and one of the culprits threatened to infect her with HIV if she refused to show him where the money was kept.
She gave in to their demands and gave them US$4 600. The culprits ransacked the house and took four cell phones. The total value stolen was about US$5 600.
Furthermore, they stole from the other victims in the same fashion. The total value that they stole in the 10 charges is US$20 000, R74 000 and property worth more than US$1 510.
The victims reported to the police and investigations were conducted leading to the recovery of some stolen gadgets and the arrest of the culprits.
Online Reporter