Suspected taxi robbers in court

yesterday appeared in court.
Themba Chakabvira (20), Anyway Chihwehwete (18), Howard Chandakuda (16), Lloyd Mutengera (24), Noah Samakombe (18), Temba Chabvira (21) and Clever Mwandiyambira (23) reportedly hired taxi drivers to secluded places where others would be waiting in ambush to steal the cars, daily takings and other valuables.
They pleaded not guilty to armed robbery charges when they appeared before Harare Magistrate Mr Never Katiyo who remanded them in custody to June 28.
Prosecutor Mr Clever Tsikwa alleges that on June 3 this year, Lawrence Togarepi parked his silver Toyota Spacio near Market Square in town waiting for clients.
It is alleged Chihwehwete approached him on the pretext he wanted a taxi to Belvedere. While along Hurtsview Road in Belvedere, Chihwehwete ordered Togarepi to stop before Chakabvira, Mutengera and Samakombe emerged from nearby hedges, the State said.
In the process they entered the car, ordered Togarepi to the back seat and robbed him of his cellphone and US$27, the court heard.
They reportedly drove the car to Sunningdale where they tied Togarepi and dumped him along Ardbennie Road.
On the same day, the four allegedly drove to Domboshava where they broke into a store and stole two packets of Pacific cigarettes and half box of powdered milk.
Afterwards they went to Epworth where they hid the property at Samakombe’s residence and dumped the vehicle along Delport Road, it is alleged. On June 6, Chihwehwete allegedly used the same tactic with Mandiyambira and stole Misheck Samu’s Toyota Spacio taxi near the Fantasyland Food Court along Inezz Terrace on the pretext he wanted to go to Braeside.
It is alleged Samu was ordered to stop along Brooks Road and he complied.
While he was asking for his money, Chandakuda reportedly appeared from the darkness and robbed the cabman of US$280 and a Nokia cellphone, the court heard.
They later dumped the vehicle along Chiremba Road in Epworth. A police report was lodged and it led to their arrest.