Lloyd Shunje
MUTARE – A 20-year-old serial criminal living in Chikanga suburb recently appeared before Mutare magistrate Tendai Mahwe facing a murder charge after he allegedly shot a taxi driver on the head using a pistol stolen from a soldier.
Talent Michael Matambo, who was remanded in custody to March 09, resides at 3136 Chikanga 2 and is facing a murder charge as defined in section 47 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23.
Appearing for the State, Fletcher Karombe told the court that on February 15 this year, Matambo hired the now deceased, who was a taxi driver, to take him to Railways Motor Services (RMS).
Upon arrival at RMS, Matambo ordered the driver to stop before shooting him in the head, killing him instantly.
Matambo then drove the vehicle, a Honda Fit, with the body of the deceased to Maruni Farm along the Mutare – Forbes Border Road where he dumped the corpse and drove away.
The accused was arrested after investigations and he was found in possession of the deceased’s car, phone and the Makarov pistol which he, with the complicity of his friend Leonard Machaka who is facing a theft charge, had earlier stolen from a member of the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA).
Matambo was denied bail after the court considered that he could abscond, given that he had a pending case of theft of a firearm and unlawful entry. He also has a criminal record, having served 22 months for unlawful entry and theft.
The court also considered that the pistol which Matambo used had seven rounds, but the other bullets had not yet been recovered.local
