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Four Bulawayo men who were allegedly in the habit of giving commuters a lift and then rob them of cash and other valuables, have been denied bail. The four include brothers Melusi (21) and Ephraim Ngwenya (24), Holy Ziweya (19) and Andile Nyoni (18) are facing 14 counts of robbery.
Miss Nonhlanhla Moyo, of Advocate SKM Sibanda and Partners representing Melusi and Ephraim Ngwenya as well as Nyoni and Mr Costa Dube of Mcijo, Dube and Partners representing Ziweya had applied for bail which was immediately opposed by the State.
In the case of Nyoni, Miss Moyo had submitted that he is a Form Three pupil at a private college in the city and would lose out on his studies if remanded in custody.
The two lawyers submitted that their clients were of fixed abode and were good candidates who were willing to abide by any given bail conditions.
However, the State led by Mr Kudakwashe Jaravaza said Nyoni would commit more offences or abscond if he is released on bail.
Bulawayo magistrate Ms Gladmore Mushove dismissed the bail application saying the four were facing serious charges.
The Ngwenya brothers and Nyoni will next appear in court on Monday and their trial is set to start on 18 November while Ziweya will next appear on 5 November.
The State alleges that between February this year and this month, Melusi and Ephraim Ngwenya both of Mpopoma, Ziweya, of 30098/10 Entumbane and Nyoni also from Entumbane hatched a plan to rob unsuspecting travellers, who they would pick up from undesignated pick-up points at night and allegedly rob them at knife point.
The court was told that the accused persons were driving in a car without number plates.
It is alleged that they would offer lift to unsuspecting travellers and drive to secluded places where they would allegedly produce knobkerries and knives which they would use to threaten their victims.
The four would allegedly demand cellphones, cash, groceries, clothes and other valuables and dump their victims before driving off.
Melusi, Ephraim, Ziweya and Nyoni ran out luck when one of their victims positively identified the vehicle and alerted the police sometime this month.
The total value of stolen property is $9 000 and only $637 worth of property was recovered.
Online Reporter