A SEVEN-MEMBER gang, which targeted pedestrians by offering them transport around Harare, robbing them and pushing them out of their vehicle, is facing 13 counts of robbery.
Denis Manyonga, Tawanda Macheka, Kenneth Pick, Leslie Mudenda, Kudzanai Tirivavi, Norran Mandevane and Nyasha Gweshe appeared before Harare magistrate, Ruth Moyo, who remanded them in custody, pending bail considerations.
The court heard that on October 24, at ZAOGA Church in Mandara, the complainant boarded a black Honda Fit which was heading towards Msasa.
The car had three occupants, including the driver.
At the corner of North Road and Harare Drive, the complainant was pushed out of the vehicle.
She left her brown handbag containing two cellphones, her national ID, a PSMAS card and US$85 cash.
The gang then sped off from the scene.
Using the same modus operandi, they robbed the second complainant of his wallet containing US$348 on November 4.
On November 9, they robbed the third complainant at the corner of Dacombe Drive and Lewisam Avenue in Chisipite
The complainant was riding his motorbike and was suddenly blocked by a blue Honda Fit.
Two men disembarked from the vehicle and one of them grabbed the complainant from behind while the other pressed an object against his chest.
They searched the complainant and took US$200 cash before speeding off.
On November 17, at the corner of Collins Drive and Harare Drive in Greystone Park, the fourth complainant boarded the gang’s blue Honda Fit.
She wanted to go to the Harare Central Business District.
At the Chisipite roundabout they stole her black iPhone 8 cellphone, national ID card and US$50 cash.
When the complainant noticed that her belongings were missing, the robbers told her that she had dropped the belongings when she was trying to close the vehicle’s door.
The driver stopped the car and advised the complainant to go and check outside by the roadside.
When she disembarked, the gang sped off, leaving her stranded.
They robbed the other complainants using the same method.
Takudzwa Jambawo prosecuted. — HMetro
