The ManicaPost
Weekender Correspondent
TWO Dangamvura men who robbed a vendor of her US$180 and smartphone on Christmas Day and spent the money away braaiing at a beerhall minutes later have been remanded in custody.
Abel Dube (19) and Vincent Maponde (21) both denied the theft charges when they appeared before Mutare magistrate Miss Perseverance Makala on Thursday. Their trial is ongoing.
Another accomplice, Tonderai Mukwena, who is alleged to have helped the pair in committing the crime is still at large. Mr Brighton Shamuyarira prosecuted.
Allegations were that the three met Jane Nyandoro (43), who was carrying her basket and some groceries along a narrow path in Dangamvura. They snatched Nyandoro’s wallet which had US$180 and a Samsung Galaxy S4 smartphone which is worth $360.
“When Nyandoro realised that she no longer had her wallet with her, she asked the trio who vehemently denied ever seeing the wallet and even helped her search for it in the grass. They then parted ways with Nyandoro who proceeded to her home,” said Mr Shamuyarira.
Some 30 minutes later, however, Nyandoro was tipped off by Maud Mutumwa who told her that the trio had stolen her wallet and that they were boasting about it and buying beer at the local beerhall.
She proceeded to the beerhall where she found Dube, Maponde and Mukwena in the butchery buying a large amount of meat that they intended to braai. Mukwena managed to escape, while the pair was apprehended.
In the company of police officers, the pair led Nyandoro to Dube’s home where they alleged Mukwena had left the money. Dube’s mother told them that Mukwena had come and collected the money. The smartphone was recovered from Mukwena’s mother.
In their defence, the pair insisted that Mukwena was the one who had stolen the wallet and that they did not know until they reached the beerhall and he started buying beer and meat to braai for everyone at the bar. Only the smartphone was recovered. Of the US$180, nothing was recovered. The the duo was remanded in custody to January 16, 2018 for continuation of trial.
