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FOUR more suspected armed robbers who allegedly raided a residential flat in Bulawayo’s Central Business District and a house in Burnside at gun point last week have appeared in court facing a count of armed robbery and two of attempted murder.Their accomplice, Daniel Nkosi of Greenspan Farm Compound who is a soldier, was on Friday remanded on his hospital bed after he was shot by detectives on the leg while trying to escape soon after the incident.
On Tuesday, Morgan Zhulani Ndlovu (32), Richard Fambirayi (32), Bruce Ziyambi (36) and Sikhulile Moyo appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Mr Abednico Ndebele.
Fambirayi was also shot by detectives and on Tuesday alleged that police had assaulted him with iron bars and a chair.
The four indicated that they would plead not guilty to the charges and were remanded in custody to 15 August.
They were advised to apply to the High Court for bail.
The court ordered that Fambirayi and Ndlovu be examined by a medical doctor and instructed the prosecutor, Mr Kudakwashe Jaravaza, to investigate the allegations of assault by police.
Three more suspects Alfred Chinanayi, Kelvin Nqobile Ncube and Nkosinathi Nyathi are still at large.
The court was told that Ndlovu, of 14 Hereford Road Hillside, Fambirayi of 2524 Nketa 8, Ziyambi of 30666 Entumbane and Moyo misrepresented themselves as Zesa workers to the complainants to be allowed into the premises.
The court was told that on Tuesday last week, the gang drove in two vehicles and proceeded to a flat situated at Number 40 A Josiah Tongogara Street.
The get away vehicles belonged to Chinanayi and Nyathi.
It is alleged that Ndlovu, Fambirayi, Ziyambi and Nkosi entered the flat while the others remained outside.
While inside, they found two women doing laundry and produced firearms, which they pointed at the two women before force-marching them into the apartment.
Nkosi allegedly shot Ms Aisha Moosa Lunat in the abdomen to silence her.
This was after she asked the two women what was going on.
The court was told that the four went to the third floor of the building where they met Mrs Najma Lunat who they allegedly threatened with a gun and demanded cash.
Ndlovu, Fambirayi, Ziyambi and Nkosi force-marched her into her bedroom where they ransacked the room and stole $20 and jewellery.
Mrs Lunat phoned her husband, Mr Ahmed Lunat, informing him about the armed robbery.
When Mr Lunat arrived, the alleged armed robbers escaped through the sanitary lane while two others also fled from the scene.
Mr Lunat gave chase in his vehicle and Nkosi shot at him and shattered the left rear passenger window, the court was told.
Police swiftly reacted to the tip-off and gave chase and shot Nkosi who had dropped a set of silver bangles which he had stolen from the flat.
Ndlovu, Fambirayi, Ziyambi and Moyo were arrested later after raiding house number 86 Circulr Drive in Burnside on the same day.
At the house, the court was told that Ndlovu, Moyo and Ziyambi tied two domestic workers with strings before stealing a money safe with $200, a ring, jewellery and a revolver. After their arrest, the suspects led detectives to Burnside and Suburbs where they had the firearms.
The total value of the stolen property was $5 000 and only that valued at $200 was recovered.
Online Reporter