Quick-Thinking Passenger Turns Tables On Mushikashika Robbers
Four men who allegedly used a grey Honda Fit to pose as public transport operators before robbing commuters have been arrested in Odzi, near Mutare.
The quartet was arrested at around midday on Sunday at Riverside, along the Mutare-Harare Highway.
Acting Manicaland provincial police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka confirmed the arrests.
He identified the suspects as George Nenhunzi (29) of Hobhouse, Mutare; Fungai Muuduri (29) of Dangamvura Destiny, Mutare; Wayne Ndiweni (23) of New Dangare, Sakubva; and Vincent Chele (34) of New Dangare, Sakubva. They are facing theft charges.
According to police, at about 10 am on Sunday, the two complainants, John Makina (38) of West Valley, Nyazura, and Tapiwa Chiwanza (45) of Nyazura, boarded the suspects’ grey Honda Fit, registration number AFI 0191, at Mt Mainje bus stop. They were bound for Christmas Pass.
On reaching Osborne turn-off, the accused persons allegedly told the two passengers that the vehicle had developed a mechanical fault and could no longer proceed to Christmas Pass. They were ordered to disembark.
It was after getting out that Makina and Chiwanza discovered their cell phones – a Samsung A04s and a Samsung A03 – were missing.
Chiwanza hired a motorbike and gave chase. He intercepted the same Honda Fit at Riverside after it had broken down and demanded his phones back. The phones were returned.
Suspicious of the circumstances, Chiwanza alerted members of the public at Riverside, who cordoned off the four men. He then called ZRP Odzi.
Officers responded swiftly and arrested the suspects at the scene. A search of the vehicle led to the recovery of 11 stolen cell phones, six balaclava masks and an empty pepper-spray container.
The accused were taken to ZRP Odzi Police Station, where they are assisting police with investigations.
The case was recorded at ZRP Odzi and was set to be transferred to CID Mutare for further investigation, as the four are linked to several robbery cases in Manicaland where commuters were allegedly robbed and abandoned after boarding pirate taxis. –
_The Manica Post_
