The ManicaPost
Lovemore Kadzura Rusape Correspondent—
FOUR daring thieves including a woman who pounced on two haulage trucks moving slowly on an uphill and allegedly stole goods worth over $20 000 were arrested and brought before the courts to answer theft charges.Gift Chimombe (27) of no fixed abode pleaded guilty to two counts of theft and is in custody awaiting sentencing.
The other suspects are Andrew Chimuti (26) of no fixed abode, a female Vimbai Tatenda Tenda (23) of no fixed abode and Zivanai Tenda (27) of Plot 3, Mufusire, Headlands.
The three are represented by Mr Maxwell Chiwanza of Chiwanza and Partners who successfully secured $150 bail each for Tatenda and Zivanai Tenda.
Chimuti was denied bail as he had previous convictions of stealing from moving vehicles at Mufusire uphill in Headlands on the Mutare-Harare Highway.
State prosecutor, Mr Tafara Chawatama, told the court that the quartet on two separate occasions stole goods worth $330 from Ashback Transport truck and $20 000 from Over Night Express Company by way of boarding the truck on the back while it is in motion, breaking locks and looting the property.
“On October 6 at around 9pm, Kumbirai Fenyere was driving a Freight Lighter truck, Registration Number ABZ6951from Harare to Mutare towing a trailer loaded with Compound D fertiliser. The load was secured with a tent.
“Upon approaching Mufusire Uphill, Headlands accused persons who were on ambush boarded the truck while in motion and cut open the tent with an unknown object. They then stole 11x50kgs of Grow Compound D fertiliser and went away unnoticed.
“Accused persons then took the bags of fertilisers and hid them in a gum tree plantation. Accused persons covered the fertiliser with grasses at Plot 3, Mufusire where Zivanai Tenda resides.
“Fenyere discovered the offence upon arrival at Rusape tollgate and filed a report at Headlands Police Station the following day. Investigations made by the police led to the arrest of Zivanai on October 11.
“On being interviewed, he admitted to have committed the offence in the company of the other accused persons. The value of stolen goods is $330 and good worth $180 were recovered,” said Mr Chawatama.
On the second count, Mr Chawatama told the court that the four used the same method to steal from Over Night Express truck.
“On August 2016 at 2am, Palmer Charama was driving a truck loaded with a container from Harare to Mutare. The container was loaded with various goods.
“Upon arrival at Mufusire Uphill, the four accused persons who were on ambush boarded the truck while in motion and broke the locks on the container. After breaking the locks, they stole property including airtime cards worth $10 000, machines, cellphones, bank cards and other items.
“They shared some of the property which includes cellphones and Net-One recharge cards among themselves and hid the remainder at Zivanai Tenda’s house.
“On October 8, police received information to the effect that the four accused persons committed the offence. Acting on the tip-off, police arrested Chimuti in Marondera. Upon being searched he was found with Net-One airtime cards with serial numbers that tallied with those stolen from the complainant’s vehicle.
“On the same day, Chimombe and Vimbai Tenda were arrested. On October 9, Zivanai Tenda was arrested. When he was interviewed he led to the recovery of several goods they had stolen.
“The value of stolen property is $20 000 and recovered is $16 000,” Mr Chawatama said.
Rusape provincial magistrate, Mr Shingi Mutiro adjourned the matter to December 13 for trial.
