BULAWAYO – In a dramatic turn of events, three Bulawayo men have been apprehended and brought before the courts on armed robbery charges after being caught red-handed at the scene of a crime. The police employed clever tactics, reminiscent of a movie plot, to lure and arrest one of the suspects who had initially escaped.
Mthabisi Ndlovu (25) of Emakhandeni, Tatenda Choga (23) of Cowdray Park, and Donson Dube (22), also of Cowdray Park, appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Ms Patience Madondo, facing two counts of armed robbery. They were remanded in custody until December 15.
Prosecutor Mr Joseph Rugara informed the court that the accused, along with an accomplice known only as “Mdu”, who remains at large, allegedly planned to rob Altcom in Thorngrove on December 5.
The court heard that the gang proceeded to Woodstock Road, Thorngrove, at around 9 PM, gaining entry to the premises through an open gate. They then targeted the Altcom workshop, where they confronted the security guard, Johnson Gumbo.
“Acting in common purpose at around 9 PM, they proceeded to Woodstock Road, Thorngrove, entered the premises through an open gate and went to the Altcom workshop, where they manhandled the security guard, Johnson Gumbo, and covered his mouth with plastic,” said Mr Rugara.
The situation escalated as the accused allegedly stabbed the security guard once on the leg with an okapi knife, causing him to bleed profusely. “They dragged him into another room inside the premises, where they tied his legs and left him bleeding,” Mr Rugara added.
The gang then broke into the Altcom warehouse using a bolt cutter and began offloading 39 IBR galvanised sheets valued at US$610 and 23 doorframes worth US$437. They also stole an HP laptop valued at US$450 and a small cell phone valued at US$10.
After offloading the items, the accused allegedly contacted Maqhawe Sibanda, who arrived driving a UD truck, and they started loading the stolen property onto the vehicle.
“During the process, managing director Mamvura Moyo arrived at the scene with police officers. Ndlovu and Mdu managed to escape, while Choga and Dube were arrested at the scene,” said Mr Rugara.
In a clever move, police officers used the two arrested suspects, Choga and Dube, to lure Ndlovu, who was subsequently apprehended at Emakhandeni Shopping Centre.
The court also heard that the complainant, Johnson Gumbo, sustained a deep stab wound to the right leg and was taken by ambulance to Mpilo Central Hospital for treatment.
The total value of the stolen property in the first count was US$1,507, of which goods worth US$1,047 were recovered.
In a second count, the same accused persons allegedly went on to rob Akim Chikwiza’s workshop, where they stole 13 × 50kg rolls of 2,5mm iron wire valued at US$871.
“They piled the stolen property outside the Altcom warehouse together with the items in count one,” Mr Rugara said.
On December 6 at around 6 AM, Mr Chikwiza received a phone call informing him about the incident. Upon arriving at the scene, he proceeded to Mzilikazi Police Station, where he filed a report. The total value of the property in the second count was US$871, all of which was recovered.
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