6 in court for assault at apostolic shrine

SIX Harare men who allegedly assaulted a man at an a apostolic sect shrine have appeared in court.

Emmanuel Ngirazi, Tanyaradzwa Jaravani, Kudakwashe Chihambakwe, Kelvin Maphiri, Tapiwa Samso and Blessing Mhandure appeared before Harare Magistrate Lynne Chizhou charged with assault.

They were remanded out of custody to March 6 on US$20 bail each.

The accused allegedly assaulted Tichavavamwe Mudyiwa whom they accused of being a thief.

The court heard that on February 25, the six approached Mudyiwa while he was at a shrine in Highfield, and demanded that he return their friend’s stolen cellphone.

Mudyiwa denied the allegations and the accused started hitting the complainant several times all over the body with open hands, clenched fists, booted feet and unknown objects.

During the assault, one of the accused, only known as Dennis and who is still at large, took

Mudyiwa’s cellphone and US$80.

Mudyiwa made a police report leading to the arrest of the accused and the subsequent recovery of the cellphone.

Mr Rufaro Chonzi is prosecuting. Meanwhile, four women who allegedly stole lotion at Spar Supermarket at corner Fife Avenue and Fifth Street appeared before the same magistrate facing theft charges.

They were arrested after they were observed on the store’s Closed Circuit Television camera committing the crime.

Maria Kativhu, Paidamoyo Mupamba, Tariro Manhimbe and Olinda Rutendo Chadoka were intercepted by a security guard while trying to leave the supermarket without paying for six bottles of Nivea lotion which were in Chadoka’s jacket.

The same accused persons have a second count of theft after they allegedly used the same modus operandi to shoplift from Spar Supermarket in Hatfield.

In this case, the State alleges that the four stole 18 bottles of Jameson Whiskey but were caught by security guards as they tried to leave the shop without paying for the alcohol.