Two Bulawayo men have appeared in court accused of stealing five Honda Fit vehicles before stripping them for parts and, in some cases, setting the remaining shells on fire to destroy evidence.
Africa Dedani Ncube, 33, and Anisto Nkanyiso Nyoni, 32, both from Emganwini suburb, appeared before Bulawayo Regional Magistrate Mark Dzira on Tuesday.
They were not asked to plead and were remanded in custody until July 27.
Prosecutor Hazel Ncube told the court the pair allegedly stole five Honda Fit vehicles between May and July this year before dismantling them and selling or retaining valuable components.
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The first incident allegedly occurred on May 13 after a complainant parked his silver Honda Fit along Jason Moyo Street between 10th and 11th avenues shortly after 11pm before briefly leaving the vehicle.
“During the complainant’s absence, the accused persons proceeded to where the motor vehicle was parked, used the car keys in the ignition port to start the engine and drove away,” the prosecutor said.
The State alleges the pair removed the gearbox before burning the vehicle. The car was valued at US$5,000.
In the second case, on May 15, another complainant allegedly parked his white Honda Fit along Luveve 5 Road before walking into nearby bushes.
“When the complainant returned about 15 minutes later, he discovered the vehicle was missing. The accused persons used duplicate keys to start the engine and drove away. They removed the gearbox and engine from the stolen motor vehicle and burnt it to ashes,” the prosecutor told the court.
That vehicle was also valued at US$5,000.
The State alleges the accused struck again on June 19 after a complainant parked his Honda Fit outside a house in Tshabalala.
“The accused persons went to where the complainant’s motor vehicle was parked and used unknown means to start the motor vehicle and drove away. They went on to strip the gearbox, radiator and front wheels before dumping the motor vehicle in an Emganwini bushy area,” the court heard.
The vehicle was valued at US$5,000.
The court also heard that on June 24 the pair allegedly stole another Honda Fit from Nketa 9 Shopping Centre.
The complainant had removed the battery and spare wheel and left the keys with a security guard.
“During the night, the accused persons used unknown means to start the engine and drove away. They stripped the motor vehicle’s gearbox, radiator and both front and rear wheels before dumping it near Upper Rangemore in Umguza,” the prosecutor said.
That vehicle was valued at US$2,800.
In the fifth count, the State alleges the accused stole a red Honda Fit from a house in Bulawayo on July 7, despite the owner having removed the battery and taken the keys inside the house.
“The accused persons used unknown means to start the engine and drove away. They stripped the gearbox, radiator, both front wheels, left headlamp and cooling fan before abandoning the vehicle in a bushy area at Martin’s Farm in Lower Rangemore,” the court heard.
The vehicle was valued at US$3,800.
If convicted, the two men will answer to five counts of motor vehicle theft. The matter was postponed to July 27, when they are expected to return to court.
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