Honda Fit Owner Assaulted, Robbed in Harrowing Hijack

Munyaradzi Mashiri- Court Correspondent

Two men have appeared in court accused of not only stealing a car and valuables but also subjecting the owner to physical abuse and humiliating treatment, including urinating on his face.

Pritchard Muneya ,20, and Arnold Matsika ,23, appeared before magistrate Donald Ndirowei at the Harare Magistrates’ Courts facing robbery charges.

The complainant is Tinashe Tepatepa.

According to prosecutor Rufaro Chonzi, on April 30 at around 8 PM, the complainant parked his Honda Fit (registration number AEO 7783), which was secured with a tracking system, at house number 986 Makomo Extension in Epworth and fell asleep.

At around 11:40 PM the same night, the accused allegedly approached the parked vehicle and used an iron bar to break open the driver's door. They assaulted the complainant with the same bar before forcing their way into the vehicle.

The court heard that the accused identified themselves as robbers and demanded the car keys. They then forced the complainant into the front passenger seat and searched him, allegedly stealing a wallet containing US$127 and R800, as well as a Samsung M14 smartphone.

One of the accused reportedly drove the vehicle to Zinyengere Cemetery, where they blindfolded the complainant with a hat and tied his hands and legs with a mutton cloth. 

They then pushed him out of the car, and one of them allegedly urinated on his face before they drove off, leaving him behind.

Tepatepa managed to free himself and sought help from people attending a nearby funeral. He contacted his father, who used the vehicle’s tracking system to disable it as the accused were driving along Seke Road near ZRP St Mary’s.

The vehicle was later recovered abandoned.

On June 18, detectives from the Vehicle Theft Squad recovered the stolen phone from one Prosper Musakaruka, who claimed to have bought it from one of the accused.

During interviews, Muneya implicated Matsika, who was subsequently arrested.

On July 15, the complainant was invited to the station, where he positively identified his phone.

The total value of stolen property was pegged at US$6 800.

The accused are expected back in court on July 28, 2025.

 

Leave Comments

Top