Online Reporter
Peter Matika, [email protected]
THREE suspected machete-wielding robbers linked to an organised syndicate that has been terrorising Bulawayo residents have been arrested.
Aaron Gatsheni (38) from Gwanda, Abel Munkuli (20) from Binga and Emanuel Moyo (19) from Filabusi briefly appeared before Bulawayo regional magistrate Mr Joseph Mabeza facing armed robbery charges.
They were remanded in custody to March 12.
The prosecutor Ms Siphiwe Mhlanga told the court that the trio was apprehended by detectives from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) homicide squad following a tip-off from the public. The arrests stem from a robbery committed on February 23 at around 10pm, when the suspects targeted the home of Bhekimpilo Ncube, stealing valuables worth R2 000.
Ms Mhlanga said the accused executed a coordinated attack. Two of them positioned themselves at separate windows, while the third knocked on Ncube’s bedroom door.
“The complainant, who was asleep, woke up and asked who was there, but received no response,” she said.
After about 10 minutes, the accused at the door forced a machete blade between the door and its frame, the tip protruding into the bedroom.
He threatened to stab the complainant while demanding money. Simultaneously, the two at the windows threatened to kill him as he begged them not to harm him.
The court heard that one suspect, armed with a machete, then forced the bedroom door open, stole Ncube’s LG cellphone and fled with his accomplices. Ncube, who recognised two of the suspects as residents of a neighbouring plot, alerted a neighbour and reported the incident to the police the following day.
Acting on another public tip-off, police ambushed and arrested the trio.
“The third accused was found in possession of the stolen cellphone, which the complainant positively identified. The second accused was found with a machete with a wooden handle, and the complainant identified the first and second accused as participants in the robbery,” said Ms Mhlanga.
