Philadelphia Mission in Africa trustee up for robb...

Philadelphia Mission in Africa trustee up for robbery

Michael Mashiri

A trustee of Philadelphia Mission in Africa Trust has appeared before the court accused of robbery using the school’s omnibus.

Tendayi Jemwa, 53, of Borrowdale, appeared at the Harare Magistrates’ Courts charged with robbery of a motor vehicle.

The case was remanded to May 10.

The complainant in this matter is Christopher Chimukoro, 42.

The State alleges that on January 24, 2023, Chimukoro received a call from his brother Peter Rego, requesting him to go to Philadephia School to collect his stuff since he had been transferred to Grasslands School in Marondera.

It is alleged that on January 26, 2023 Chumukoro went to Philadephia School driving a Nissan Hard body, single cab.

The court was informed that his brother had told him to see one George Rukwesa, who was going to give him the property.

When he arrived, he saw Rukwesa, who also asked John Marangwanda and Webster Ndawana to assist him in loading his brother’s property, a 42 inch colour Television, defy fridge, overlocking machine, wardrobe, one piece of sofa, one table and two chairs into the car.

After loading, his car failed to start. He then got assistance in pushing the car from the students up to the school gate but it failed to start.

He had reached Harare-Domboshava Road where he tried to fix it, but realised that someone had tampered with the coil pack cable. He fixed it and went on with his journey, driving along Borrowdale-Domboshava Road towards Harare city centre.

The State alleges that while Chimukoro had driven off, Jemwa together with his accomplices Rukwesa, Marangwanda and Ndawana who are on remand on the same charge, got into the school bus on registration number AFJ9957 inscribed Philadelphia School and followed Chimukoro.

When they reached Whity Ladies lane, about a kilometre away from the school, they overtook Chimukoro and blocked him.

The court heard that Chimukoro stopped and around 11 men that included the accused persons whom he recognised came out of the minibus armed with iron bars, wooden sticks and a tow bar.

Jemwa’s accomplices opened the driver’s door and Chimukoro resisted.

They hit him with an iron bar and pulled him from the car.

They allegedly assaulted him with iron bars and wooden sticks and left him unconscious.

The accused allegedly stole the car which had a leather jacket containing US$800, a birth certificate, national identity card, NMB bank card, CABS bank card, Stewart bank card, vehicle registration of the car AA00503, iron box with spanners, two jacks, two wheel spanners, land cross, pioneer car radio, timing kit for the car, box of NGK spark plugs, pioneer speakers, machete, bolts and nuts.

Chimukoro later came to and filed a report at ZRP Southlea Park.

Investigations led to the arrest of the accused persons and the recovery of the car.

Chimukoro noted that a car radio, four tyres, two complete wheels, red canvas canopy, two rear lights bull bar and size 650 Exide battery were missing.

On March 26, the bus a Toyota coaster AFJ9957 that was used in the commission of the offence was recovered.

Jemwa was arrested on April 3 in connection with this matter.

As a result, the value that was stolen is US$6 700 and the car, valued at US$4 000, was recovered.