The ManicaPost
Lovemore Kadzura
Rusape Correspondent
FOUR armed robbers allegedly pounced on a timber delivery truck in a Nyanga forest and stole timber and cash worth US$4 100.
The quartet, Hopewell Mangoma (21), Evans Fungirai (29), David Tizora (28) and Ethel Fungirai (26) were recently arrested and appeared before Nyanga magistrate, Ms Notebulgar Muchineripi, facing robbery charges.
They were denied bail and were remanded in custody to November 8 for trial.
They were represented by Mr Cosmas Chibaya of Chibaya and Partners.
Prosecuting, Mr Tapiwa Mashanda said the quartet, together with three other accomplices who are still at large, used a spike to deflate the tyres of a truck that was carrying the timber.
The gang attacked the truck’s driver, Mr Fredrick Musindo, with logs and an axe, before stripping him naked.
“On September 26, the accused persons and three other accomplices only known as Prosper, Joel and Kelvin Luke Ndoro who are still at large hatched a plan to rob Mr Musindo of his timber.
“Along the road near Charamba Business Centre, the accused persons intercepted Mr Musindo who was driving a truck loaded with 30-cubic metres of timber.
“They placed a spike under the truck which was moving at a low speed and deflated its tyres. Mr Musindo stopped and discovered that his trailer had two tyre punctures. He decided to sleep in the truck so that he could fix the tyres the following morning,” said Mr Mashanda.
He said the accused persons approached the truck and one of them broke the windscreen using an axe.
“They entered the truck and demanded Mr Musindo’s cellphone. He surrendered it to them. They attacked Mr Musindo with logs and stones. They stripped him naked and one of them struck him on the head with a stone.
“Mr Musindo sustained a cut on the left side of his head. He, however, managed to escape and fled to a nearby bush,” said Mr Mashanda.
It is alleged that the accused persons ransacked the truck and stole US$1 180 which was under the driver’s seat.
“They loaded some of the timber into a Nissan UD truck which they hired and was being driven by Ndoro who is still at large and drove away. Mr Musindo went to a nearby village where he was given some clothes and proceeded to make a police report.
“The accused persons’ truck was tracked by the police and was spotted along the Rusape-Nyanga Highway. Upon reaching Kriste Mambo Mission, the suspects noticed that they were being followed by the police. They turned into a dusty road and dumped the truck at a bridge, before disappearing into the bush.
“The truck was recovered and driven to Nyanga Police Station as an exhibit. On October 5, police received information that the accused persons were behind the robbery.
“They were arrested and they led detectives to the crime scene where they made positive indications. They also led detectives to the recovery of the spike which they had used to deflate Mr Musindo’s tyres. Mr Musindo’s phone was also recovered from Mangoma,” said Mr Mashanda.
The total value of the recovered property is about US$4 100.
