Gweru robbers in court
THREE notorious armed robbers who were on Thursday night arrested by police after being linked with a spate of armed robberies in Zvishavane, Gweru, Shurugwi and Kadoma are now facing two murder charges after they allegedly killed two security guards in Kadoma and Zvishavane.
Tapiwa Chimhute (29), Anyway Madala (27) and Simbarashe Machiritsa (40) all of Ascot Infill high-density suburb in Gweru, were yesterday hauled before Gweru magistrate Ms Elizabeth Magomori facing five counts of robbery.
The State applied for further detention in police custody as the trio was facing two murder allegations which the police said were still to go for indications in Kadoma and Zvishavane.
The court heard that the alleged robbers who were armed with a 303 rifle killed a security guard in Kadoma when they pounced in the gold mining town a few weeks ago.
“The three need to be further investigated on another murder they allegedly committed in Zvishavane,” said Mr Ernest Muzembi who was representing the State.
Ms Magomori granted the State further detention in police custody and remanded the matter to tomorrow. The three robbers, who have been terrorising miners and businesspeople in Gweru and Shurugwi getting away with more than $25 000 in four weeks, were found in possession of five rifles and a pistol, $6 000 cash and a VW Golf vehicle.
The property was recovered at lodgings belonging to two of the armed robbers’ girlfriends in Ascot Infill suburb in Gweru where they were arrested following a tip off from members of the public.
In one of the counts and on 7 April at about 7.30 pm, Chimhute, Madala and Machiritsa broke down a kitchen door and entered a house in Athlone suburb where they stole electrical gadgets and cash.
Using the same modus operandi, the gang broke into three other houses in Gweru and a mine in Shurugwi and got away with a VW Golf vehicle and more than $25 000 cash. There was drama in Ascot Infill High density suburb yesterday as police detectives raided two lodgings where Chimhute and Madala were staying.
The detectives recovered household property which included beds, television sets, electrical gadgets and blankets which are suspected to be proceeds from robbery money. At one house belonging to Ms Inet Kaisa (24), police are said to have also recovered a pistol. Ms Kaisa said she has been staying with Chimhute for the past seven days as husband and wife.
At the other house, Ms Jenita Mahachi (25) said she has been staying with Madala for the past month.
One of the complainants, Mr Symptoms Siwawa (40) of Windsor Park in Gweru — a chrome miner and transporter thanked the police for arresting the robbers.
“They pounced at my place on Tuesday around 8pm, they pointed guns at my family members and my children are still traumatised. They went away with $495 cash and they wanted me to drive them to Kwekwe but my vehicle ran out of petrol. I escaped as they went to rob another house and I reported the matter to the police. They were targeting businesspeople and miners,” he said.