Macadamia nuts robbers nabbed
SIX suspected armed robbers were arrested for robbing a Chipinge farm of macadamia nuts worth hundreds of dollars.
The six - Stanley Simango (23),Boniface Sigauke (25), Gift Mulambo (30), Trust Makanzi (22), Charles Mubango (21) and Tichaona Moyana (18) - appeared in court facing robbery charges as defined in Section 126 (1) (a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 9:23.
The six pleaded not guilty when they appeared before Chipinge magistrate Mr Poterai Gwezhira, who adjourned the matter to October 11 for trial. They were remanded in custody.
State prosecutor Ms Edith Phiri alleged that on September 1 and at Plot Number 1, Newcastle Farm, Chipinge, at around 6pm, all the six accused persons in the company of Luck Sigauke and Moses Sigauke who are still at large hatched a plan to rob macadamia nuts at the farm.
“The accused who were armed with logs and machetes went to Newcastle Farm where they found the complainants, Jamulani Mhlanga, Trymore Muchongoyo and Gift Dhliwayo at their homestead.
“They went into their house and attacked them. They assaulted the complainants with the sides of their machetes, logs and open hands demanding cash realised from the previous sales of macadamia nuts.
“The accused person stole 7x50kg bags of macadamia nuts weighing 225,6 kg and forced the complainants to carry two more bags to a nearby gravel road where they heaped their loot. The complainants were told to return to their homestead,” she said.
Ms Phiri said the accused persons then sought transport from one of the accused person, Gift Mulambo who was driving a Toyota Hilux vehicle. The suspects directed Mulambo to house number 1912, Gaza O, Chipinge, where they sold the nuts to one Mudenya.
She added that the complainants managed to identify all the suspects and made a police report.
“On September 4, one of the suspects, Stanley Simango, was arrested in possession of a homemade knife which they had used to commit the offence.
“He implicated the others and led detectives to Mudenya where 7x50kg bags of macadamia nuts were recovered. The value of stolen nuts is $280,”she said.