Tinaani Nyabereka
Police in Gweru are investigating a case of robbery in which a man from Gweru boarded a lift to Chivhu got robbed along the way and woke up dumped in Beitbridge on June 23, four days later.
Circumstances are that on June 19 at around 1600 hours, Tamayi Tabaziva boarded an unregistered Nissan Note motor vehicle at Gweru Show-Grounds intending to go to Chivhu.
The vehicle was being driven by a male adult and had two other male occupants on board and Tabaziva sat on the front passenger’s seat.
Upon reaching the 10km peg along Mvuma road, one of the men produced a knife and ordered Tabaziva to remain calm. The other one sprayed him with an unknown substance on the face and he fell unconscious.
Midlands Provincial Police Spokesperson Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko confirmed the incident and said investigations were underway.
“We confirm a case of robbery in which a man intending to go to Chivhu was robbed and dumped in Beitbridge losing his two cell phones and cash amounting to US$365 and investigations are ongoing,” said Mahoko.
On June 23, at around 1700 hours, he gained consciousness and realised that he was in Beitbridge with nothing on him and had bruises all over suggesting that he could have been assaulted.
He had been robbed of US$365 and two cellphones, a Huawei and K-Gtel and was assisted with transport by well-wishers to Gweru where he reported the matter on June 25.
In yet another robbery incident, a lady manning a money transfer kiosk at Mkoba 6 Shopping Centre, Gweru was robbed of airtime worth US$60 after a client she was serving broke into the tuck-shop.
All the stolen airtime was recovered after the suspect gave chase and apprehended him before handing him over to the police.
It is alleged that on June 25 at around 1100 hours, Ruth Manhivi was at the kiosk when 24 year old Russell Marongere from Mkoba 3 came and made an Ecocash cash out transaction of US$7.
Manhivi bent down to take money from a cashbox and during the process Marongere allegedly entered the kiosk through the door which was unlocked and sprayed an unknown substance on her face.
Marongere took 8 x USD$5 Netone and 4 x USD$5 Buddie airtime top-up cards all valued at US$60 and ran away. The complainant screamed for help and some alert members of the public pursued the man and apprehended him leading to the recovery of all the stolen airtime.
Marongere has since appeared in court, and was remanded in custody to July 10 for continuation of trial.
