By Promise Dube
Two suspected armed robbers were denied bail after terrorising a family in Nkankezi, Filabusi and robbing them of a car and US$30 000 in cash and cellphones before leaving them bound with cello tape.
The two suspects, Tilton Moyo (29) and Mphelisi Ngwenya ( 34), appeared before Filabusi Resident Magistrate Abednico Ndebele on different dates, facing robbery charges and were remanded in custody to July 12, 2023.
The magistrate denied them bail because one of the accused, Ngwenya, has a pending murder case and is currently out on bail.
If given bail this time, it was noted that he will flee because he has no family, no home address, and may interfere with evidence or witnesses.
Ngwenya is also facing ten charges of plain robbery, which he committed while on the run.
The magistrate further highlighted that the firearm used in the robbery was not recovered; if granted bail, the accused will do all it takes to prevent the gun’s recovery and may regroup with other accomplices who are yet to be caught.
The State, represented by Shepherd Moyo, informed the Filabusi court that on June 25, 2023, at 2050 hours, the complainant Morina Manyetu and her husband Shepherd Nxumalo arrived at their home, coming back from Drumbalchan 3 Mine.
Manyetu was driving her Toyota Fortuner vehicle.
Nxumalo opened the gate for the two to enter the yard, and as the complainant parked her vehicle, she was approached by the suspects and other male adults.
According to the prosecutor, the accused dressed in black masks and armed with a black gun knocked on the driver’s window, demanding money from Manyetu.
“One of the accused fired a shot into the air and then another shot into the back right window, destroying it,” said the prosecutor.
Manyetu’s husband managed to identify Ngwenya as one of the accused because he had gone to their shop during the day looking for work, said the prosecutor.
“The accused dragged Manyetu out of the vehicle and took her to her bedroom, where she was made to lie down together with her husband.”
The accused persons and their accomplices also force-marched Manyetu’s daughter, Sithokozile Dube (22) and Thulani Dube (12) and bundled them in the same room.
“They demanded cash from the complainant and her husband who handed them cash amounting to US$8 000. The accused persons then took the two complainant’s black Huawei cellphones which had fallen on the ground as the two were dragged outside of the vehicle,” said the prosecutor.
“The accused continued demanding cash from Manyetu and stabbed her four times on the left hand with an okapi knife. She handed over US$2 000 which was in her black and white handbag and was then taken outside in the company of her daughter.
“The robbers demanded more money and Manyetu told her daughter to give them US$20 000, which she had asked her to keep for her.”
The daughter handed over the cash which was in a satchel, said the prosecutor.
“The accused persons tied the family with cello tape and left them lying on the floor while they drove off in Manyetu’s vehicle to Skuta Business Centre where some other accused persons dropped off and others proceeded to dump the vehicle in Zvishavane,” he said.
The victims managed to untie themselves and made a report to ZRP Filabusi. Investigations made led to the recovery of the complainant’s vehicle.
Ngwenya was arrested in Bulawayo and was found in possession of cash amounting to US$1 700 which is part of the money he stole from the complainant as well as a Samsung S10 brought from the proceeds
The total value stolen was US$77 400 and only US$4 500 was recovered.
