Hitchhikers turned hijackers

Michael Mashiri

A man who stands accused of being a member of a gang that stole a car after pretending to be hitchhikers has appeared in court.

Tapiwa Jonga, 40, of Chitungwiza, appeared at Harare Magistrates' Courts accused of robbery

The State alleges that on August 20, 2023, Jonga and three accomplices still at large were offered a lift by complainant Goto Onias who was driving a Honda fit.

Goto picked the accused at Giant Service station, Ziko, Seke after they said they were going to Chitungwiza.

When they reached Unit O, Seke, along Dema-Chitungwiza Highway, Jonga and his accomplices started assaulting Onias with open hands forcing him to stop the car.

They overpowered and handcuffed him and one of them allegedly took control of the car.

The others pulled Onias to the rear seat and they drove the stolen car to Mayambara Village, Seke.

There, they searched Onias and took his ITEL P37 phone.

They tied his hands and legs with a rope and later dumped him in a drain in Mayambara Village, Seke. He managed to untie himself and went to make a report at ZRP Chitungwiza.

An application for a call history of the stolen phone was made with Econet Zimbabwe and it indicated that it was being used by one Irvine Ronald Chikuwa.

Chikuwa led the police to Erison Chapananga who had sold him the phone. Chapananga indicated that he bought the phone from one Warren Mukiza who led the detectives to Jonga.

As result Onias lost property to the value of US$3 500 and only US$150 was recovered.

Jonga will was retained in custody and reappears in court this coming Monday.