Cephas Shava
Mwenezi -Four of the five armed robbers who pounced on Mwenezi’s Dhiki Business Centre before proceeding to nearby Munhundishe Primary School where they robbed and severely assaulted teachers on March 9 were arrested a day after committing the offence.
The four suspects Sunboy Pfuwai (32) of Chibwe village under Chief Nyajena, John Chiumburu (30) of Kwangari village under Chief Chivi, Davis Hove (29) of Chandimhara village in Zaka and Tafara Siziba (28) of Mharadze village under Chief Maranda in Mwenezi appeared before Mwenezi Magistrate Gift Manyika on March 11, 2023.
The fifth suspect is still at large and believed to have skipped the border into South Africa.
The quartet facing robbery charges were all remanded in custody to March 24 pending trial after their initial appearance.
Represented by prosecutor Hardlife Machando, the State alleged that on March 6 this year the four together with one Panashe who is still at large, who operates from neighbouring South Africa illegally crossed the border with a pistol.
On March 8, at around 1900 hours, the five proceeded to Pazai Store at Dhiki Business Centre wielding the pistol, threatened patrons and the shop owner before robbing them some cash and cell phones.
After robbing at the business centre, the five proceeded to Munhundishe Primary School which is about 3 km away from Dhiki where they severely assaulted teachers and robbed them of their cell phones and money before disappearing.
During investigation at the crime scene, police managed to identify one of the accused Siziba who immediately ran away but was later arrested on March 9 boarding a Toyota Wish on his way back to South Africa.
Siziba then sold out his accomplices who were hiding in a mountain near Nyahombe Business Centre.
With the help of a police dog, detectives managed to apprehend the other three accused persons but one Panashe was never accounted for and the pistol used to commit the offence was not recovered.
According to information provided Masvingo Provincial Police Spokesperson Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa, at Pazai bar the suspects stole R 740 and US$ 20, while at Ramonga they got away with R 1 500 and US$ 50 before robbing teachers at Munhundishe of R 70 and US$ 60 as well as cell phones.
