MARTIN MAWAYA
GWERU-The case in which Fawcett employees allegedly ambushed, robbed the company cash-in-transit vehicle at the 243km peg along Gweru-Harare Highway near Connemara and got away with US$305 290-00 as well as two pistols was postponed to June.
Bongani Mapfumo (30) employed by Fawcett as a driver, Blessing Lizhu (39) not employed and Langelihle Moyo (43) in charge of cash-in-transit, all from Bulawayo, appeared before Gweru Regional Magistrate, Rumbidzai Mugwagwa facing robbery charges.
They were remanded in custody to June 6 for continuation of trial.
Prosecutor Vivien Chindedza who was assisted by Taurai Mavuto told the court that on November 25, 2021 at around 5:45am along Harare-Bulawayo Road, Mapfumo who was driving the cash-in-transit vehicle with two boxes of money picked 8 passengers at the hiking spot known as Emagumtree.
She said amongst them were Lizhu and the other four accused persons still at large whom the accused identified as Sibusiso Ngwenya, Madla Ncube, Nqobile Moyo, Sikhumbuzo Nyathi and Precious Dube.
The court heard that all were purporting to be traveling to Harare.
She said upon arrival in Gweru CBD, the three passengers were dropped off and Lizhu in the company of four other accused persons who are still at large also dropped off at Metro Peach hiking spot.
Chindedza added that Mapfumo and his colleagues proceeded to Fawcett security company depot in Gweru to collect cash.
The court heard that Mapfumo and his colleagues came back, picked up Lizhu and four others still on the run and proceeded with their journey to Harare.
Before reaching the 243km peg along- Gweru-Harare Road near Connemara Open Prison, Lizhu and his accomplices produced an AK47 rifle and a CZ pistol, pointed them at Emmanuel Nhamo and Thomas Chisambatsi while ordering them to remain silent.
It was alleged that one of the accused persons still at large hit Emmanuel Nhamo with a spanner several times on the heard, since he was refusing to cooperate, while another accused with a Tonga accent used a metal object to hit Thomas Chisambatsi on the head.
Whilst the vehicle was moving, one of the accused person still on the run, used a spanner to unlock the three cash box locks and started to load the money into their bags.
The court heard that one of the accused banged in the vehicle body signaling Mapfumo to stop and he pulled off the road.
At that time Lizhu and others jumped off the vehicle and force marched Mapfumo and Moyo to the back of the vehicle with their hands tied from the back.
It is alleged that at that time one of the accused persons took over the car and drove into the nearby bush.
The court heard that Moyo then phoned Israel Mberengwa one of his superiors at Fawcett Bulawayo office alleging that they were robbed by the police officers at the road block, the same false information he told the police together with Mapfumo when they were interviewed.
However, upon further investigations it was discovered that there was no roadblock at that particular area (crime scene).
The court heard that upon further interrogations by the police, Mapfumo and Moyo changed their statement and Mapfumo implicated Lizhu as one of the robbers.
On November 26, 2021 Lizhu was then apprehended in Bulawayo after he called his wife Josephine Ndlovu to bring the money and US$18 780-00 cash was recovered from him.
The Itel cellphone which was used to communicate and give updates of his location to other five accomplices still on the run was also recovered from Lizhu.
The Itel cellphone and call records as well as cyber report were tendered as exhibits in court.
From the US$305 290-00 stolen, only US$18 780-00 was recovered.
