adminMatema denied robbery charges when he appeared before Chitungwiza magistrate Mr Godfrey Unzemoyo.
He was remanded to March 7 for trial.
It was alleged that on December 19 last year, at around 01:45am, Matema in the company of his friends went to Dema Growth point armed with a machete.
Upon arrival at Hodhera tuck shop, they forced open the door waking up Netsai Kodzwa who was sleeping inside.
They started assaulting her with the machete and clenched fists while demanding cash. Kodzwa indicated that she had no cash, but one of the robbers struck her again with the machete. Irked by her response, the gang then decided to loot groceries and loaded them into their car that was parked five meters away. A police officer in the next tuckshop opened the door to rescue Kodzwa, but was ordered to remain inside or risk being killed.
Matema was recognised by the police officer since there was light inside the tuckshop and this led to his arrest.
Online Reporter