By Rex Mphisa
RELATIVES of the slain money changer Ashton Manga are worried that a serious charge of car theft has not been levelled together with murder against suspect Daniel Chamisa aka Madzibaba Weslodge.
Chamisa is in remand custody on allegations of murdering Manga he invited for prayers.
The deceased Manga was last seen on December 2, 2025 with Chamisa before his remains were picked in a kneeling position at the self-styled prophet bush place of worship.
Some US $2 500-00 R18 000 and two mobile phones a Samsung A05 with Net One line 0717 144 023 an Oppo Reno 12 with Econet line 0773 538 373 which belonged to Manga are yet to be recovered.
Soon after Manga’sremains were found, Chamisa handed himself to the police after going dark from the day Manga went missing.
He was duly charged with Murder as defined in Section 47 of the Criminal Law (Cordification And Reform Act Chapter CHAPTER 9:23.
A relative of the deceased on Monday told Ziyah News Network they were shocked that Chamisa only faced a charge of murder.
“We understand he stole a car from another worshipper and used it to escape. Police told us they recovered the car at Matshiloni but when we checked with the Provincial and Regional Magistrates Courts, there car theft case has not been placed befire tha courts,” said the relative.
“To us, and to any person and in the interests if justice delivery, that case has to be put before the courts,” said the relative.
And according to the police Request For Remand Form for Chamisa recorded as Beitbridge CR60/12/25 by Detective Sergeant Katichu, he indeed stole a car.
On line 13 of the Request for Remand he clearly wrote “ When deceased’s relatives left accused’s home, he went to his shrine where he stole a motor vehicle to use as getaway car from Beitbridge area. The vehicle developed a mechanical fault at Matshiloni along Beitbridge-Masvingo road where the accused dumped it and disappear to unknown destination”.
It is understood the stolen car, a Nissan AD Van, belonged to one of the congregants who may have decided not to pursue the case.
A lawyer in Beitbridge said the car theft links the suspect with the murder, if the truth has to be told.
“What was he running away from that prompted him to steal the car? That completes the story,” said the lawyer.
Under Zimbabwean law, car theft is a serious property theft offence.
It is categorised as “theft of a motor vehicle” as defined in Section 113 of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act (Chapter 9:23).
That crime has of late been worrisome in Beitbridgewith a car having been recovered in Mozambique.
Recently another car was stolen at gunpoint at a Funeral parlour in Beitbridge.
Convicted car thieves are sentenced to more than five years in prison.
Manga’s relatives believe that if the congregant not willing to pursue car theft charges is an accessory to the murder and should also be charged.