Trio in the dock over armed robbery at Afrochine D...

Trio in the dock over armed robbery at Afrochine Darwendale and Alliance Ginneries

Michael Mashiri

Three men who went to Afrochine Darwendale and Alliance Ginneries and stole property worth US$12 800 have appeared in court.

Brighton Mangondo, 38, of Glen View 3, and Gerald Rutizirira, 37, Armsterdam Park, Harare, appeared before magistrate Donald Ndirowei at the Harare Magistrates’ Courts on an armed robbery charge.

The State, through prosecutor Lancelot Mutsokoti, alleges that on June 29, and July 2, at Afrochine Darwendale and Alliance Ginneries in Norton, the two accused - who were together with the late Ishmael Mutungira, Mugove Chimuti, Tanaka Madzima and Chenjerai Mutsikwi, who is already in custody, Leonard Magumura and Llyod Hove, who are still at large - went to the complainant, Shepherd Moyo, the guard at Alliance Ginneries and Afrochine Darwendale campus.

They acted as if they were police officers who were looking for an accused working with Moyo.

They allegedly forcefully entered the premises and while inside, they manhandled Moyo and demanded to be shown offices where they kept money.

They allegedly disarmed him of his 12-bore shotgun charged with three rounds and took US$11 600.

On the second incident, they force-marched the complainant, Misheck Mbata, to the offices where they entered and stole one lap top and an Itel P38, which was on charger all valued at US$1 200.

They moved around the factory and met the other guard who then started firing at them.

The three then fled from the scene using Rutizirira’s Mercedes Benz and another car owned by the late Ishmael Mutungira.

The property that was robbed was worth US$12 800 and nothing was recovered.

They were ordered to apply for bail at the High Court and will be back in court on November 28.