Kwekwe (New Ziana) – A Redcliff man, with an eight month baby strapped on him, teamed up with three others to go on a robbing spree in the town, a local court has been told.
Three of the men, Gift Nhete (24), Taurai Machinga (39) and Marlon Shoko (20) – all from Rutendo high density suburb – were nabbed by
police, while the fourth accomplice is still at large.
They pleaded not guilty before Kwekwe magistrate Florence Nago.
The trio are facing one count of aggravated unlawful entry into premises as defined in Section 131 (1) as read with Section 131(2)(e) of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act Chapter 9:23 and two counts of robbery as defined in Section 126(1) of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act Chapter 9:23.
It is the state case that on March 31, the three, together with Ezekiel Moyo who is still at large, allegedly broke into Island Nyasha’s house in Rutendo when he was on duty as a security guard at a shop in Redcliff.
They allegedly stole property valued at ZWL$1458-00 which included clothes, food items, US$10, four tomatoes and an axe. When the three were arrested, police managed to recover 375ml cooking oil, one tomato and an axe.
On April 1, the accused persons, armed with an axe, stormed into the house of Priviledge Mawere in Rutendo Extension, and ordered him to cover his head with a blanket. They allegedly threatened to kill him if he did not give them money.
They got away with property valued at ZWL$2245-00, and property valued at ZWL$1000 was recovered.
On the same day, they went to Peter Taru’s house and robbed him of his property valued at ZWL$2700-00.
Asked why he was moving around with his baby on the alleged robbing spree, the accused told the court he had no choice because the mother had left him.
The baby is not charged.
New Ziana