Man robs, fondles complainants while threatening t...

Man robs, fondles complainants while threatening to rape them

Michael Mashiri

A man, who was part of a group that allegedly raided and stole phones, money and fondled complainants’ private parts in Borrowdale, has been taken to court.

Wellington Mashawila, 28, of Hopley, appeared before magistrate Donald Ndirowei at the Harare Magistrates’ Courts charged with robbery.

He was remanded in custody to March 21.

The State, through prosecutor Lancelot Mutsokoti, alleges that on February 7, at around 0150 hours, Mashawila and his accomplices - who are still at large - went to number 107 Domboshava Road, Borrowdale in Harare, armed with knives and screw drivers.

They allegedly force-opened the window and entered the house where they confronted Leonorah Mugariri, Kudzai Lorraine Swanepoel, Dorothy Tsvara, Clive Tsvara, and Tadiwa Vengesai, who were sleeping in different rooms and demanded money and valuables.

They allegedly stole an IPhone 15 Pro Max, IPhone X 64 Gb, Samsung A04, Iphone 14 Pro Max, Iphone 12 Pro Max, Iphone 11, Samsung A20, Samsung A14, Samsung A23, Samsung A50, a Nokia, US$1 501, 1 pound, Rose Gold MacBook Air, black Asus laptop, Jordan bag with pencil case, a bag with baby clothes, laptop satchel, three rings, bracelets.

After that, it is alleged that they fondled the female complainants and squeezed their private parts, threatening to rape them.

They demanded them to remove passwords from all the phones and exit phone accounts for all the iphones.

When the accused was arrested, the complainants recovered a Samsung A50 and pouches for the stolen phones.

As a result, US$9 700 worth of property was stolen.