Suspected armed serial robbers locked up

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FOUR Bulawayo men who allegedly went on a robbery spree were on Friday locked up in remand prison pending trial set for October 3.

FOUR Bulawayo men who allegedly went on a robbery spree by offering people transport before stealing their belongings were on Friday locked up in remand prison pending trial set for October 3.

SILAS NKALA STAFF REPORTER

The four, Melusi Ngwenya (21), Ephram Ngwenya (24) of Mpopoma suburb, Andile Nyoni (18) and Holly Ziweya (19) of Entumbane, were not asked to plead to 10 counts of robbery charges when they appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Gladmore Mushove.

The court heard that on August 28 at 7.30pm, the four were driving in a Ford vehicle belonging to Ngwenya in Nketa 9 and gave a lift to Keith Magwizi, who was going home in Entumbane.

When they were close to Tshabalala Youth Centre, one of them allegedly produced a knife and threatened to stab Magwizi before robbing him of a Sumsung Gallax cellphone.

On the same day, the four also offered a lift to Tarisai Gumede whom they later robbed of a handbag, mobile phone, a Bible and $1.

They later picked up Gillian Gumede and robbed her of her handbag, mobile phone and a hymn book.

They went on to pick up Ernest Sigwa, Ndumiso Ndebele and Menas Doyi on separate occasions and robbed them of three mobile phones and a total of $14 and R20.

On September 14 they pretended to be going to Gwanda and offered a lift to Tedious Mahoso at Max Garage in the central business district, but drove to a secluded spot in Ascot along the Bulawayo-Gwanda Road.

They allegedly produced a knife and robbed him of his bags containing a graduation gown, black pair of trousers, blue stripped shirt, a pair of shoes, $5 and identity particulars.

The State also alleges that on September 15 at around 8pm, they picked Elizabeth Ncube at Intemba Road in Magwegwe West and robbed her of $60 and an assortment of airtime recharge cards worth $400.

On the same day they allegedly used the same modus operandi on Murombo Tendeukai and robbed her of $3, T-Shirt and a pair of black shoes.

At midnight on the same day, the four picked up Sisa Mavikisa and went on to rob her of a handbag, mobile phone and apron.

In total, the four allegedly robbed their unsuspecting victims of $488 in cash and property worthy $637, which was not recovered.

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