Two robbers in the dock
TWO suspected robbers from Chitungwiza yesterday appeared in court facing four counts of robbery afterthey allegedly stole valuables and money totalling US$59 690.
Kumbirai Nigel Ndamukira (33) and Onward Mukwiza (34) appeared before Harare regional magistrate Mr Donald Ndirowei who remanded them in custody to January 11. Only the High Court can grant a robbery suspect bail.
Appearing for the State, Mr Lancelot Mutsokoti alleged that on October 14 last year at around 2am, the two and their accomplices, some now already on remand and others still at large, robbed a woman at her house in Shawasha Hills.
It is alleged they gained entry through a window into her bedroom. Armed with pistols and iron bars they awakened the complainant’s siblings who were in their bedrooms and forcemarched them into the complainant’s bedroom.
The court heard the gang ransacked the house and stole US$3 000, three pellet guns, four iPhones, three laptops and jewellery, and the total value lost was US$16 190. Only one pellet gun has been recovered.
On the second count, the incident occurred on November 23 around 2am in Borrowdale when the gang attacked the complainant aged 63, at his home. They were armed with hammers, knives and iron bars. They forced open the main door to gain entry. Once inside, they tied up the complainant and his wife with electric cables and started demanding money.
The complainant surrendered US$1 730 that was on the chest of drawers and the gang also stole laptops, iPhones and groceries. They then took Toyota Hilux double cab, which they used to carry the stolen items and drove away, before dumping the vehicle at Chikwanha Shopping Centre in Chitungwiza, where it was recovered.
Total value stolen was US$22 700 and US$15 000 was recovered.
On December 18, Ndamukira and Mukwiza, with their same accomplices, pounced on another complainant in Timire Park, Ruwa, at around 3am. This time they were armed with a shovel and wooden logs.
They broke in through the main door, tied the complainant and his wife with neck ties and demanded cash, before stealing two television sets, cell phones, a solar battery and inverter, among other items.