Munyaradzi Mashiri- Court Correspondent
Five more suspects linked to the US$74 600 robbery at Alfa and Omega Farm have been arrested and appeared before the Harare Magistrates' Court, facing two counts of robbery.
Garikai Shangwa ,43, Temptation Dinhidza ,44, Arnold Tafirei ,38, Tawanda Mashayatu ,45, and Mike Mhaka ,45, were remanded in custody until April 10 and advised to apply for bail at the High Court.
According to the State, on February 25, 2025, the accused persons, along with accomplices still at large, stormed Cossam Siminya’s residence armed with pistols, sjamboks, iron bars, and a hammer.
Siminya and his wife, Precious Makore, were awakened by their barking dogs. Makore, after briefly stepping outside to check, returned and heard intruders banging on the back door. She alerted her husband, and both called for help from their neighbors. As the banging continued, Makore fled through the front door to seek help while Siminya hid under a Toyota Fortuner parked outside.
The robbers forced their way in and confronted Panashe Zhuwawo, who was asleep in the spare bedroom, demanding money and valuables. They stole an Itel phone, a 49-inch Samsung TV, an Itel power bank, an Itel S23 phone, and US$700 in cash from another occupant, Jane Manokore.
They then ransacked Siminya’s bedroom, stealing $10,000 in cash, an iPhone 14 Pro, a Tecno Spark 8, and groceries, including a box of cooking oil, Boom washing powder, brown sugar, and an additional US$500 from tuck shop sales. From the lounge, they took a 55-inch Samsung TV before proceeding to the tuck shop, where they assaulted Bosco Chidukudze and stole a small Samsung phone.
The total value stolen in this incident was US$13,220, and none of the stolen items were recovered.
On March 18, 2025, the accused, along with accomplices still at large, attacked Alfa and Omega Farm in Marondera, armed with rifles, pistols, bolt cutters, machetes, and iron bars.
They overpowered security guard Petros Mabunhu, assaulting him with iron bars and booted feet before tying his hands and legs with cable ties. The gang then forced him to lead them to the other guards. They disarmed internal security guard Zex Mutasa Rusike, taking his CBC shotgun, and brutally attacked another guard, Medic Zhakata, before restraining him with cable ties.
Two robbers stood guard over the subdued security personnel while the others advanced to the main house. They cut the lock on the burglar screen, forced open the main door, and entered.
Inside, they confronted Gerald Muteke, demanding cash. Fearing for his life, he surrendered US$18,000, a Sarsilmaz pistol with eight rounds, and two Samsung phones. The robbers then turned to Vimbai Muteke, who handed over US$1,100, a Chubb safe key, and a Samsung Galaxy A35. She was forced to open the safe, from which the gang took US$55,000.
As the robbers looted, farm security officer Elphas Maruta, armed with a .303 rifle, was alerted and approached the house. He fired two shots at the intruders, who retaliated with three shots before fleeing with their loot.
A total of US$74,600 was stolen, but authorities managed to recover US$3,800 worth of cash and property.
The five suspects remain in custody as investigations continue, with law enforcement still pursuing their accomplices who remain at large.
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