Two men in court for possession of explosives, fir...

Two men in court for possession of explosives, firearms and ammunition

Michael Mashiri

Two men facing two counts of unlawful possession of explosives, firearms and ammunition, one of whom was arrested after running into a maize field, have appeared in court.

Moyden Nyambuya, 38, of Warren Park 1 and Tinashe Jokonya, 38, of Greendale, appeared before magistrate Ruth Moyo at the Harare Magistrates’ Courts accused of unlawful possession of explosives and Firearms and ammunition.

On March 23, at around 2300 hours, Nyambuya and Jokonya, together with one Shanganani Ndlovu, who is admitted at Parirenyatwa Hospital under police guard, Paul Chinake and two others who are still at large armed themselves with pistols, metal bars, and explosives and went to Highlands.

They waylaid one Nicolas Mazambara and his nephew, Martin Goshomi whom they confronted upon parking their Mercedes Benz C200 in the yard.

Nyambuya and Jokonya produced their firearms and manhandled the complainant and his nephew who had just arrived form Chitungwiza, demanding cash and valuables.

One armed accused was left guarding the victims while the other accused went into the office where they broke a window to enter.

While inside the office, they used a grinder to cut the safe and stole cash amounting to US$58 000.

They also ransacked the office and stole gold-coated kitchen cutlery. They then took the complainant’s Mercedes Benz keys and used it as one of their getaway car.

On March 24, 2022, detectives from CID Homicide, arrested one Decide Rice, who had sneaked into the country from South Africa.

After his arrest they were informed that he wanted to team up with Nyambuya to commit armed robberies in Harare.

On March 26, 2022, detectives from CID Homicide carried out a raid at Nyambuya’s place of residence. Upon noticing the presence of the officers, Nyambuya set two vicious dogs on the police officers.

Detectives shot and killed the dogs. Taking advantage of the confusion, Nyambuya scaled over the precast wall and took to his heels.

The detectives chased him, firing several warning shots but he did not stop.

They letter arrested him hiding in a maize field.

Upon arrest, Nyambuya led to the recovery of CZ pistol serial number erased with a magazine of eleven rounds, a 7.65 pistol serial number erased with a magazine of four rounds, 36 pieces of gold cutlery, 1 by Bosch grinder, 11 by cutting discs, 2 by diamond steel cutting disc, 1 by bobbedjaan spanner, 1 by bolt cutter, 1 by concrete cutting dice, 1 by crow bar, 3 by danger explosive dynamites, 1 by tin slipper, 1 by wheel spanner, 1 by hammer, 1 by chisel, 1 by bayonet knife, 2 by screwdrivers, 2 by key grinders, 1 pair gloves and one balaclava.

Nyambuya was interviewed and he implicated Jokonya and one Paul Chinake, and two others from Bulawayo known by Jokonya as his accomplices.

He led to the arrest of his accomplices, Jokonya and three others after a shootout.

He stated that those were the weapons they used in the commission of the current robbery case they are facing.

The accused persons are not permitted at law to possess such explosives, firearms and ammunition.

Moyo sentenced the two for six months in prison on their first count, that is, unlawful possession of explosives and ordered them to pay a fine of US$200 on their second count of unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition.