The ManicaPost
Senior Court Reporter
TWO criminals who murdered a popular and dreadlocked Rusape taxi driver have been slapped with life sentences after being convicted of murder with actual intent.
The suspects — Rimigious Vitalis Chibanda and Tapiwa Zvomuno — are Harare residents.
The duo disguised as genuine customers, before attacking Emmanuel Ngwarati aka Manex and dumping his body near Zimati Farm along the Mutare-Harare highway.
The court heard that the duo assaulted and stabbed Ngwarati all over the body as he had refused to surrender the vehicle and to disclose his EcoCash PIN number.
They then disappeared with Ngwarati’s 323 Mazda Familia vehicle, which they intended to use as a get-away vehicle in their robbery escapades.
Justice Isaac Muzenda said the suspects deserved life imprisonment as the murder was committed in aggravating circumstances.
Senior prosecutor Ms Jane-Rose Matsikidze said the incident happened on November 3, 2018, in Rusape.
Zvemuno, of Epworth, was sold out after being found in possession of Ngwarati’s mobile handset at the Ximex Mall in Harare.
After killing Ngwarati, Zvemuno and two other criminals went on to rob a family in Mabvazuva. They escaped with an assortment of goods.
Prosecutor Ms Matsikidze told the court that the killers hired Ngwarati from the Rusape CBD, before assaulting him with fists and stabbing him several times.
“On November 4, 2018 around 0100hrs, the accused persons hired Ngwarati from the CBD to Magamba turn-off, along Rusape–Mutare road.
“Upon reaching the Magamba turn-off, Zvemuno and Chibanda dragged Ngwarati out of his vehicle and assaulted him with fists and booted feet all over the body. They also stabbed him all over the body with a knife.
“They then removed Ngwarati’s jean trousers and took away his Vodafone cellphone, two Nokia phones, national identity card and some cash. They tied Ngwarati’s hands at the back with a light canvas belt.
“They then lifted Ngwarati and placed him at the back of his car and dragged him for 40 metres away from the highway. They continued to assault him with a pair of jumpers, demanding that he reveals his EcoCash PIN number,’’ she said.
When Ngwarati became unconscious, the criminals drove away in his vehicle.
They later dumped his vehicle 34km along the Rusape-Nyanga highway.
A stolen Vodafone phone was recovered from Zvemuno, who was subsequently arrested.
He implicated Chibanda.
