Michael Mashiri
A man from South Africa, who carried out a series of robberies with his accomplices around the country has been denied bail.
Roy Mutemagazi, 43, of South Africa appeared before the Harare Magistrates’ Courts charged with armed robbery.
The State alleges that on December 30, 2019, at around 2300 hours, Mutemagazi armed himself with several pistols, logs and metal bars together with his accomplices.
They went to Jealous Chuma, 35, who is an employee at King Cobra, Budiriro 2 who was in the house together with one Yolanda Madzima, 19, and Naishaanyika, 19.
They used force to enter, breaking through the French door padlocks.
When they got inside they demanded money, ransacked the house, assaulted Chuma with a shovel and logs before stealing RTGS$25 000 which was in a 20 litre bucket in the bedroom. They further stole US$900 and ZAR800 from a cash box which was in the bedroom.
They allegedly fired some shots while in the bedroom.
After stealing the money, the accused ran away into the darkness and disappeared.
The total that was stolen is US$900, ZAR800, RTGS$25 000
When Mutemagazi was arrested, he implicated the rest of the accused as his accomplices.
The State, further alleges that on February 5, 2020, at around 1400 hours, Mutemagazi and his accomplices drove to Chicken Inn, Makoni Business Centre in Chitungwiza armed with unidentified pistols and an AK47 rifle.
They parked their car, a white Toyota Hilux twin cab without registration numbers, blocking the entrance to Chicken Inn car park.
About seven accused came out of the car and fired shots, ordering all vendors who were near Chicken Inn to lie down.
Jairos Jack, 33 and Simbisai Jack 30, both of Chitungwiza and are the complainants in the matter tried to start their cars but were quickly stopped.
Mutemagazi who allegedly was holding an iron bar broke windows on Jairos' car, a white Toyota Allion.
They pulled Jairos out of the car and ordered him to lie down while the others accused broke Simbisai's windows.
They also pulled him out of the car and ordered him to lie down.
They searched Simbisai's car and took a bag which had RTGS$15 000 and a Samsung S9.
The other accused then entered into Jairos' and drove it away at a high speed following their gateaway car, the Toyota Hilux they had come with, heading towards Dema.
In Jairos’ car, there was US$7 000, two small Nokia phones.
After their departure from the crime scene, Jairos and Simbisai went and reported the matter at ZRP Chitungwiza.
The total that was stolen was US$12 000, RTGS$3 500 was recovered.
The State also alleges that, on February 2020, at around 0750 hours, Mutemagazi and his accomplices confronted Rodney Dangarembizi, 40, of Chisipite who was standing at his car in the garage at his house.
One of the accused pointed a pistol on him, ordering him to remain silent and to follow their orders.
Suddenly, one of the accused started assaulting Dangarembizi, demanding money and valuables.
One of the accused searched Dangarembizi and stole US$3 000 from his pockets.
After that, they started demanding more money, which they claimed he had been given by Tawanda Nyambirai.
Dangarembizi was force-marched into his main house where they searched the whole house and stole US$37 000, jewellery, several shoes, Apple laptop and two car keys which were in his main bedroom.
Mutemagazi allegedly went on to open the gun cabinet where they stole a 9 mm Star pistol, a CFR and 120 rounds of ammunition.
They proceeded to steal a Samsung AZ Core, Huawei Nova 4 which were in the lounge.
They also forced marched Dangarembizi at gunpoint to his garage where they ordered him into his parked silver grey Honda Fit.
The other accused took charge of his white Hyundai.
They started to demand on the whereabouts of Tawanda Nyambirai who is the owner of TN Holdings, a company that was situated next to Dangarembizi's place residence.
For fear of his life, Dangarembizi led the accused people to TN Holdings where they confronted one Dumisani Moses Dube, Tinashe Masango, Faith Nyambirai, Betty Chitando who were at the main reception while wearing balaclavas.
They instructed them to lie down with their stomachs.
They searched Dube and took his wallet which had US$250, an Hp laptop and his Samsung J1 phone.
Masango was also searched and they stole his Sony phone and Kgtel, from Nyambirai, they stole an Itel P33 and from Betty, they stole an Itel P33 and an Hp laptop.
They started demanding to know the offices of the company's CEO and where he put his safe and Dube led them there.
The accused persons forced open the CEO's offices and stole a chub safe with US$180 000 and an Acer laptop.
They loaded the safe in the Hyundai which they had stolen from Dangarembizi and drove away.
At around 1100 hours, four of the accused persons were seen by the police, one Sergeant Sithole and Constable Mandivei both of ZRP Mazowe Traffic who were enforcing a road block near Mazowe Hotel along Mazowe Road, driving the stolen car and a Toyota Fortuner, as a gateaway car.
The drivers of both cars were signalled to stop but did not do that, they went on with their journey in Harare-Mazowe highway and dumped both cars near Mazowe Angling Sports Club and got into their gateaway car, a gold Toyota Fortuner and drove off.
The value that was stolen was US$227 250, ZAR28 000, and various property including two cars worth US$10 000 which were recovered.
The court was also informed that, the accused continued with their orgy of armed robberies.
The State alleges that Mutemagazi and other accused persons, on December 20, 2019 at around 1530 hours they confronted Culdees Honye, 33, of Damafalls in Ruwa who is the sale manager at Wessec Sol Enterprise was in the shop together with one Brighton Chigura, who is a cashier.
They pointed their firearms at her and ordered her to lie down and she complied.
They grabbed Wilfred Motsi, 51, who was a customer making enquires, searched him and took his Tecno Spark 4, Samsung and RTGS$20.
One of them hit Honye on the neck with a pistol grip demanding to know where the cash safe was.
She went and showed Mutemagazi two safes which had US$14 000, ZW$150 240, ZAR21 500 which were in one of the offices.
Mutemagazi took the two safes and loaded it into an Isuzu KB240 single cab white in colour owned by Motsi who was a customer in the shop.
Other accused person searched money from the till and took away Honye's Tecno Spark 3 and a Tecno tablet with a company number.
Mutemagazi also confronted one Cornelius Mutandwa and ordered him to lie down and he tried to resist.
They assaulted him open hands and booted feet and disarmed him of his service firearm, a .38 Rissi revolver loaded with 5 rounds of ammunition.
They drove away in the stolen car.
The car was later found dumped in Arcturus area with the two safes which had been opened.
The value that was stolen was US$35 000, ZW$150 240 and ZAR21 500 and US$21 000 was recovered.
When Mutemagazi was arrested, he was interviewed, leading him to implicate his already arrested accomplices and others still at large.
He also showed the places where they had committed the offences.
Mutemagazi was ordered to appear in court on July 10.
He was ordered to appear for bail at the High Court because of the magnitude of his crime.
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