The Sunday News
Man arrested for stealing 45kgs Zesa cables
A MAN from Luveve in Bulawayo has appeared in court after he was arrested with copper cables weighing more than 45 kilogrammes.
Right Matara last week appeared before Western Commonage magistrate Mr Shepherd Mjanja to answer to charges of theft. He pleaded not guilty and was remanded in custody to 28 June for trial.
Prosecuting Ms Melisa Dube told the court that on 12 March at around 9am police officers from Luveve Police Station were on a patrol and making follow up on criminals who had cut electricity cables and dumped them the previous night.
Zesa cables
Acting on a tip-off, police visited Matara’s residence and upon arrival they found his wife Magret Sibanda. They introduced themselves and conducted a search in her yard during her presence.
The court heard that the police officers recovered five armoured underground cable covers, burnt overhead copper cables, 19 overhead copper clippers, 1,2 metres of sharpened iron rod and one shovel all covered by a dry heap of maize stalks in Matara’s garden.
maize stalks
Sibanda was then interviewed in connection with the recovered rolls of copper cables and she revealed that they belonged to her husband and he was arrested.
On the same day, Jim Demba employed at Zesa as a loss control officer positively identified the recovered property as belonging to the company. The recovered copper cables were weighed in Matara’s presence and were found to be 45kg valued at US$900. The recovered property is held at the station and can be produced in court as exhibit. –
Angel Nkomo, Sunday News Reporter
Church armed, robbers arrested
A GROUP of machete and fire arms wielding robbers have appeared in court after they robbed a United Methodist Church pastor at gun point in Bulawayo, a few days before they also struck again by raiding a family in Gwabalanda at around 6am.
Prince Ndlovu (38) of Old Lobengula, Artkins Manhinzwa (37) of Mzilikazi and Derrick Ndlovu of Old Lobengula, appeared before Bulawayo provincial magistrate Ms Nobuhle Ndlovu on Monday to answer to chargers of armed robbery. The trio also appeared along with Cosimio Mazwiamahle Ngwenya (34) of Emganwini and Serby Nkala in connection to other armed robbery cases.
Church armed
The gang was remanded in custody to 27 June for trial. According to the State as represented by Ms Portia Mashazhu, it is alleged that on 17 May this year at around midnight, the three men in the company of their accomplice, Nkala who is already on remand, proceeded to United Methodist Church situated along Luveve Road in Matshobana. Upon arrival, they climbed over the perimeter wall into the yard where they ambushed the security guard, Stanley Mukungunungwa whom they threatened with an iron bar and machetes.
Ndlovu proceeded to hand-cuff Mukungunungwa, tying his legs and taping his mouth with a cello tape after disarming and stealing his 9mm Walther pistol loaded with a magazine that had three rounds in it. They also took his cellphone, US$ 60 and $16 000.
The trio then proceeded to the pastor’s quarters, where they destroyed the kitchen door with an unknown object to gain entry despite the pastor, Samson Muzengeza screams.
They got inside and threatened Muzengeza with pistols, machetes and a bolt cutter ordering him to lie down.
They further demanded money insisting that they had information that he was keeping large sums of cash for the church and Muzengeza surrendered the cash amounting to US$200, R7 200, $3 000 and two cellphones.
They locked the pastor in the toilet, ransacked the house and stole a public address system that comprised of two speakers, power and extension cables, two black solar batteries, amplifier, a crossover, inverter, two microphones and an assortment of groceries.
The armed robbers then demanded car keys for a Nissan X Trail in which they loaded the stolen cash and drove off.
The motor vehicle was later recovered by police dumped in the Magwegwe area. The court heard that on 28 May at around 5am, the gang pounced on a house in Gwabalanda where they poisoned and killed the dogs.
They then climbed over the perimeter wall and laid an ambush for Mbizo Mpala to wake up and open his doors.
At around 6am, Mpala’s maid, Audrey Nhliziyo woke up to clean the yard and disable the alarm systems. When she went outside to secure the dogs, the gang which was already inside the yard, sprang to action and ran into the house.
They rounded up Mpala and his family members, threatening to kill them with pistols, machetes and knives.
Mpala surrendered to their demands and gave them US$5 000 cash that was in the wardrobe. The armed robbers also stole a 303 rifle and a pellet gun from the gun cabinet, an iPhone X cellphone, a Huawei 320 cellphone, two Samsung cellphones and US$300 which they found in Mpala’s wallet. After the robbery, they took the car keys and stole a Toyota RunX motor vehicle which is white in colour that they later dumped near Mthimkhulu Primary School in Magwegwe West leaving behind the pellet gun and the 303 riffle minus its magazine inside. – Thembekile Ntuliki, Sunday News Reporter
Teen offered R5 for indecent assault
A 42-year-old man from Njube in Bulawayo has been arrested for allegedly giving oral sex to a boy aged 15 without his consent.
Madodana Ncube appeared before West Commonage magistrate Mrs Sibongile Marondedze last week facing charges of aggravated indecent assault and was remanded in custody to next week for trial.
R5
Representing the State, Patience Mudzire told the court that on 28 November 2021 at around 2pm, Ncube was sitting in his yard when he called the victim who was playing with his friends outside. He offered the victim R5 so he could lick his behind but the boy refused. Ncube allegedly grabbed the juvenile and forced the boy into the indecent act.
He then gave him R5 for his silence. The matter came to light when one of the victim’s friends told his mother who informed the victim’s mother about the act.
A report was made and the victim was referred to the hospital for medical examination. – Nohlelo Mlilo, Sunday News Reporter
Co-tenants in court over toilet sex
A WOMAN from Nkulumane, Bulawayo has dragged her co-tenant to court after the latter had accused her of snatching her husband and using the toilet as their love nest.
Farisai Ndoro dragged Sarudzai Sigauke to court and the two appeared before Bulawayo West Commonage magistrate Mrs Ulukile Ndlovu last week, who granted the pair a reciprocal order which binds them to live peacefully with each other.
According to papers filed in court, Ndoro claimed Sigauke was in the habit of branding her a prostitute, and always accused her of having sex in the toilet with her husband.
Ndoro said she could not bear the brunt of being humiliated because she had never slept with Sigauke’s husband.
“My name is Farisai Ndoro my co-tenant Sarudzai is emotionally, physically, and verbally abusing me. She is always accusing me of having sex with her husband and would claim that I have sex with him in the toilet,” said Ndoro.
Ndoro also said Sigauke was in the habit of labelling her a prostitute who is bent on wrecking her marriage.
“Whenever we argue, Sarudzai would push me. She always bangs on my door while shouting obscenities and would repeatedly brand me a prostitute and that has tainted my reputation at home and in the suburb.
Bangs on door
She disturbs us during the night as she plays her radio until 3am. I have tried to engage her on several occasions so that we could live amicably but all my efforts have hit a brick hall. Therefore I apply for a protection order against her,” she said.
Sigauke denied the allegations levelled against her and said she has never assaulted Ndoro
“She is always lying, I have never assaulted her or insulted her. When we argued last week on Sunday, she turned violent and assaulted me.” – Nohlelo Mlilo, Sunday News Reporter
