The Herald – Breaking news.
Prosper Dembedza Herald Correspondent
Three suspected armed criminals appeared in court to answer charges of robbing both a Harare gas station and school.
Washington Musindo and TinasheTagwireyi were charged with armed robbery when they appeared in front of Harare Magistrate, Mrs Marehwanazvo Gofa. She remanded the three to custody until November 3, pending their trial.
The High Court was contacted to obtain bail.
It is the State’s case that on October 11, the trio and their accomplices who are still at large armed themselves with a pistol, metal bars, bolt cutters and explosives and proceeded to Total Service Station in Budiriro 1 Shops, Harare.
The court heard how, upon their arrival, the men abused both a security guard and a petrol attendant. They threatened to shoot them should they not comply.
The trio dragged the two complainants in a office and tied their hands with cell phone chargers.
Together with their accomplices, they searched the fuel attendant and stole his Itel AS8, US$4 and ZWL$4000 before forcing open the director’s office where they stole a Lenovo laptop, 2x DVR.
They stole US$6,000 and then disappeared in the darkness.
The total amount stolen was US$6200, and nothing recovered.
Musindo planned to rob Westlea primary school in Harare at around 8pm on September 26, with his accomplices, who are still at-large.
The attackers armed themselves using an unidentified gun, bolt cutters metal bars, and explosives. They then attacked two school security guards.
The security guards were beaten and forced marched into a classroom block where they were placed under guard.
The accused then proceeded to an administration block, where they broke open the screen and doors of the building and gained access.
lt is alleged that the gang blasted a safe which was in the headmaster’s office where they took cash US$1 932. The gang also stole a 1x HP Core I7 silver laptop and 2x HP Envy Laptops, as well as a 1x CADAC45-litre cooler, 62kg of beef, 30kg of chicken drumsticks and a 1x AFM Solar Digimark.
The total stolen value is US$8 808 and US$1200 was recovered.
Musindo, along with his accomplices who were still at large on September 27, planned to rob Rukudzo primary school in Kambuzuma Section 3 Harare.
They assaulted the complainant, who was on duty. Then they tied his hands and his legs with shoelaces, assaulted his body with booted and clenched feet, and stole US$4 from his pockets.
They then proceeded to the administration block where they blasted a safe in the headmistress’ office but failed to open it. The robbers took US$404 from a small cash box, an Acer Laptop, and a number of groceries.
The total amount stolen was US$1 075; nothing was recovered.
Around 10.30pm, the gang arrived at Kuwadzana 8 primary school armed with a pistol that was not identified, bolt cutters, and iron bars. They ordered the complainant to lie face down and hit him with an iron rod.
The gun was pointed at his head and they threatened to shoot him for refusing to comply. The thieves took his phone, then went to the administration building where they destroyed a safe. They stole ZWL$68000 and US$3 5551 before leaving.
The two are also charged with unlawful possession of an firearm after being arrested in Domboshava.
