Chronicle Editor
Patrick Chitumba, Midlands Bureau Chief
POLICE in Gweru have arrested six notorious masked armed robbers among them a soldier who were allegedly behind more than 30 robbery cases involving over half a million dollars in the Midlands capital.
The six robbers are part of an eight-member gang which was armed with a rifle, machetes and went on a robbery spree in Gweru between February 1 and March 3 this year.
This was heard during the appearance of Tafara Tenson Muzanenhamo Maidza (34), Value Mutizira (40) -a soldier, Romeo Tinashe Mukwanda (31) and Farirai Brandy (42) all from Gweru, Clive Javangwe (37) from Kadoma and Welcome Tawedzerwa Blessing Zhou (29) from Bulawayo before Gweru magistrate Ms Miriam Banda facing armed robberry, theft of motor vehicles and unlawful entry into premises charges.They all pleaded not guilty to the charges and were remanded in custody to March 30.
Ms Constance Madzudzu for the State told the court that between February 1 and March 3 this year, the accused persons in the company of two accomplices who are still at large, hatched a plan to steal from the complainants.
She said they armed themselves with a rifle, machetes and targeted residents of Southdowns, Southview, Lundi Park, Athlone and Northlea suburbs.
Ms Madzudzu said in order to disguise, the accused wore wollen masks during their operations.
Online Reporter
Bongani Ndlovu