By Takudziridzwa Nyama
Three robbery suspects Sarezi Shonhiwa, 57, from Zin’anga Village under Chief Seke; Tafadzwa Chakuteta, 36, from Marble Reign, Harare; and Willye Chirau, 32, from Dera Village, Chief Mangwende have been arraigned in court for allegedly committing a spate of armed robberies and violating the Firearms Act. The alleged crimes occurred between June 2023 and November 2024 and involved thefts at Nutrition Africa in Tynwald South, an industrial premises in Tynwald, a house in Christon Bank, and a farm in Goromonzi.
The Harare Magistrates Court convicted the three suspects, who were remanded in custody and advised to apply for bail at the High Court.
The National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ) reports that the state alleges the trio, along with accomplices still at large, targeted the Nutrition Africa business premises in Tynwald South on June 23, 2023, around 1:30 AM.
The suspects allegedly confronted the complainant and his colleagues, ordering them to lie down, tying their hands and legs with shoelaces. They forcefully took the victims’ cellphones and covered their heads with sacks.
They then marched the complainant and his coworkers to a room where the company’s money was kept, ransacked it, and stole an assortment of groceries valued at USD 460. An alarm was triggered, prompting the suspects to flee the scene.
On July 12, 2023, around 11:30 PM, the trio and their accomplices used a pistol to rob another industrial premises in Tynwald, escaping with USD 1,500 in cash and electrical gadgets worth USD 4,500.
Shonhiwa, Chakuteta, and Chirau executed another robbery at a house in Christon Bank, Harare, on October 24, 2024, stealing property valued at USD 20,000, including the complainant’s Toyota RAV4 motor vehicle.
Shonhiwa was arrested on November 9, 2024, following a tip-off after being captured on CCTV during a robbery at Goromonzi Farm on November 3, 2024. His arrest led to the apprehension of the third suspect in Murehwa and the recovery of jewelry stolen during the robbery.
The second suspect was arrested on November 11, 2024, after being implicated in a series of robberies and found in possession of a pistol stolen during the Christon Bank robbery. During the Goromonzi robbery, the suspects reportedly made off with property worth USD 16,000.