adminThandeka Moyo, Court Reporter
TWO Bulawayo men allegedly carjacked seven taxis at knife point in three weeks.
The duo robbed the drivers, stabbing one on the forehead, a court heard.
Derrick Nkala, 24, from Paddonhurst and Nqobile Nyoni, 21, from Pelandaba suburb allegedly attacked taxi drivers plying the eastern suburbs after pretending to be genuine customers.
Nkala is also up for several different carjacking crimes committed with two other accomplices who were not named in court.
He was arrested after he attempted to sell stolen vehicles in Harare.
The duo pleaded not guilty to seven counts of carjacking, robbery and assault before regional magistrate Mark Dzira.
The magistrate remanded them in custody to tomorrow for continuation of trial.
Prosecuting, Tinashe Dzipe said on June 10 at around 7.30PM, the two men pounced on Darangwa Tongai after asking him to drive them to Matsheumhlope.
“When Tongai reached an intersection in the suburb, Nkala grabbed him from behind and pressed an unknown object against his neck.
They searched Tongai and took away $32 and forced him out of the vehicle and drove off,” said Dzipe.
A few hours later, the duo approached Paul Makomvu and asked him to take them to Matsheumhlope.
“Makomvu was ordered to stop at the same intersection and they immediately started assaulting him. He fought back and had to leave the car screaming for help,” he said.
Dzipe said Makomvu’s car was later recovered at the scene of the crime.
“On June 18, the duo hired Thamsanqa Dube at around 10PM and asked to be taken to Paddonhurst for $3. They instructed him to stop along Welby Road and produced a knife and placed it on Dube’s neck and demanded cash,” said Dzipe.
The court heard that Dube surrendered $5 which they grabbed before driving away in his vehicle.
“Bekithemba Dube was the fourth victim who was stabbed on the forehead trying to escape from the duo. They failed to lead him to a bushy area in Suburbs and Nkala stabbed him before they sped off with the vehicle,” said Dzipe.
“The duo again approached Alfred Sibanda and asked the driver to take them to Suburbs along Heyman Road. When Sibanda stopped, Nyoni went to his door and searched his pockets pretending he wanted to pay. The duo attacked him and drove away with the vehicle”.
The court heard that Tichaona Mweyamweya lost his vehicle and two cellphones to the pair after they threw him out of the car while it was in motion.
“The two men also attacked Boniface Masarira and took away his vehicle,” Dzipe said.
The recovery of Masarira’s vehicle, the court heard, led to the arrest of the two men.
They led indications and it was discovered they also committed the previous crimes.
Online Reporter