Chinese robbery victim’s guards nabbed for shooting passersby

A HARARE man who allegedly robbed a Chinese national of $11 300 in Belgravia, Harare, before fleeing from the scene after a fierce gunfire exchange appeared in court yesterday.

The shooting caught innocent passersby, Mr Kevin Guzah and his friend Ms Kudzai Nduku, in the crossfire, resulting in two Chinese men and a Zimbabwean also appearing in court yesterday for firing at them.

For the robbery incident, Thomson Runyowa appeared before Harare magistrate Ms Rumbidzai Mugwagwa facing charges of robbing the Chinese national.

He was remanded to March 8 and advised to approach the High Court for bail.

Allegations are that on February 19, Runyowa and his accomplices robbed the Chinese man, Mr Jiang Long, of 31 Lincon Road in Belgravia.

They had information that Mr Jiang was on his way from collecting money from one of his shops in Chipinge.

They were driving a Toyota Wish and intercepted Mr Jiang in Rusape where they robbed him of $8 300 before driving him to his residence in Belgravia where they took $3 000.

Jiang Long security guards, who were alerted of the incident approached Mr Jiang’s house and opened fire, forcing the alleged robbers to flee the scene, leaving their getaway car.

Further investigations led Runyowa.

During the shooting incident, it happened that Mr Guzah and Ms Nduku were passing by when they heard gun shots and decided to make a U-turn.

Two Chinese men, Luo Tingpen (27) and Li Yize (27) and their Zimbabwean accomplice Gamuchirai Nigel Zuze (23) noticed them and gave chase, before allegedly shooting at them.

The three appeared before Harare magistrate Ms Rumbidzai Mugwagwa yesteray facing attempted murder charges for allegedly injuring Mr Guzah and Ms Nduku.

They were remanded in custody to March 8 and advised to seek bail at the High Court.

The prosecutor Mr Sebastian Mutizirwa alleged that Mr Guzah was driving a Toyota Vitz in the to the arrest of company of Ms Nduku along Lincon Road in Belgravia.

As they approached Number 17 Lincon Road, they heard gunshots from a house.

In fear for their lives, they made an ‘about turn’ and drove towards Zuva Service Station at Belgravia.

It is alleged that Luo, Li and Zuze, who are part of a reaction team at Jinglong, had earlier received an alert from their client that he had been robbed by people driving a Toyota Wish.

They came out of the house where the shooting was taking place and chased after the Toyota Vitz that was being driven by Mr Guzah.

Mr Guzah lost control of his vehicle and crashed into one of the fuel pumps at Zuva Service Station.

The trio, who were giving chase, jumped out of their cars, approached Mr Guzah’s car and shot Ms Nduku on the pelvis and assaulted her.

Mr Guzah got out of his car and fled, but fell into a trench. One of the accomplices came and shot him on the pelvis while he was still in the trench.

The trio also assaulted Mr Guzah before shooting him on the right leg.

The court further heard that the trio took Mr Guzah to the police and left Ms Nduku behind. TWO Harare men appeared in court on Thursday after they were found in possession of a live pangolin worth $5 000, which they intended to sell.

Dereck Munangatire (24) and Menard Gazi (41) appeared before Harare magistrate Ms Josephine Sande facing charges of unlawful possession of a live pangolin. They were remanded in custody to March 7. Allegations are that on February 10, detectives from the Minerals Unit received a tip-off that the duo were in possession of a live pangolin.

It is alleged that they intended to sell the animal to Amon Pazvakavambwa for $3 500.

The court heard that the detectives proceeded to Engen Garage (corner Simon Muzenda and Speke Avenue), where they waited for the pair who were reportedly on their way from Eastview.

Upon arrival, the two, who were carrying a brown bag, entered Pazvakavambwa’s vehicle.

While the parties were negotiating the price, the detectives approached them, introduced themselves and stated their mission.

They instructed Gazi to open the brown bag and they discovered a live pangolin in it.

The detectives subsequently asked Munangatire and Gazi to produce a licence or permit that authorises them to possess the pangolin, and they failed leading to their arrest.