News / National
Armed robber in court facing 39 counts of armed robbery
28 Mar 2012 at 05:18hrs | Views
A SUSPECTED armed robber who together with his accomplices went on a nationwide robbing spree targeting commuters and shops yesterday appeared in court facing 39 counts of armed robbery.
William Takundwa (25), who is also facing attempted murder and unlawful possession of a firearm charges, at one time allegedly robbed 29 Zupco passengers of US$3 000 and 20 cellphones.
They also robbed a foreign currency dealer of R150 000.
Takundwa was not formally charged when he appeared before Harare magistrate Ms Anita Tshuma who remanded him in custody to April 5 this year.
The first complainant is Mercy Chivige, a money changer at Roadport.
It is alleged on September 8 last year Takundwa, in the company of Anthenas Munyonga and Robson Chumuka, lured the complainant to a house in Sunningdale on the pretext that they wanted to convert UD$16 000 into South African rand.
Ms Chivige, it is alleged, managed to raise R150 000 and went to Sunningdale.
Upon her arrival, Takundwa entered into the complainant's vehicle for the deal and suddenly produced a pistol and ordered the complainant to move away from the driver's seat to the back seat.
He allegedly demanded the R150 000, which the complainant surrendered. Takundwa and his accomplices allegedly drove towards the Catholic University where they handcuffed Ms Chivige on the steering wheel before dumping her.
On September 11 the gang allegedly robbed Mr Stewart Ndoro of his Mazda 323 Familia vehicle after he had given them a lift.
They also robbed him of his cellphone and laptop.
Using the stolen vehicle the gang is alleged to have driven to Centenary where upon arrival they went to Chiparo Shop and robbed the shopkeeper of US$80 at gunpoint.
At around 11pm the gang went to Mt Darwin where they stole a pistol from an Econet security guard.
The gang proceeded to Shamva Mine bar where they stole US$182 and six crates of beer.
At around 2am the following day the gang went to a service station in Glen View where they ordered two petrol attendants to lie down before stealing US$1 057 and two cellphones.
They also stole US$1 100 from a Sakunda Service Station.
The following day they took their robbery spree to Kwekwe where they went to IBREX Service Stations and stole a pistol from a security guard.
On March 1 this year the gang robbed a man, who had given them a lift to Zvishavane, of his Toyota Sprinter.
Using the robbed vehicle the gang proceeded to Buhera where they ordered a Zupco bus driver to stop.
They produced a pistol and fired one shot on the bus roof ordering everyone to lie down and surrender cash.
Takundwa and his accomplices, it is alleged, searched the 29 passengers and stole US$3 000 and 20 cellphones.
On March 13 this year Takundwa and another accomplice were seen by one Constable Jerera, a dog handler based at ZRP Rusape, lying under a tree during the night.
The pair is alleged to have tried to shoot the policeman but the firearm failed to fire and Constable Jerera released the dog, which attacked Takundwa and brought him down.
He was subsequently arrested.
William Takundwa (25), who is also facing attempted murder and unlawful possession of a firearm charges, at one time allegedly robbed 29 Zupco passengers of US$3 000 and 20 cellphones.
They also robbed a foreign currency dealer of R150 000.
Takundwa was not formally charged when he appeared before Harare magistrate Ms Anita Tshuma who remanded him in custody to April 5 this year.
The first complainant is Mercy Chivige, a money changer at Roadport.
It is alleged on September 8 last year Takundwa, in the company of Anthenas Munyonga and Robson Chumuka, lured the complainant to a house in Sunningdale on the pretext that they wanted to convert UD$16 000 into South African rand.
Ms Chivige, it is alleged, managed to raise R150 000 and went to Sunningdale.
Upon her arrival, Takundwa entered into the complainant's vehicle for the deal and suddenly produced a pistol and ordered the complainant to move away from the driver's seat to the back seat.
He allegedly demanded the R150 000, which the complainant surrendered. Takundwa and his accomplices allegedly drove towards the Catholic University where they handcuffed Ms Chivige on the steering wheel before dumping her.
On September 11 the gang allegedly robbed Mr Stewart Ndoro of his Mazda 323 Familia vehicle after he had given them a lift.
They also robbed him of his cellphone and laptop.
Using the stolen vehicle the gang is alleged to have driven to Centenary where upon arrival they went to Chiparo Shop and robbed the shopkeeper of US$80 at gunpoint.
The gang proceeded to Shamva Mine bar where they stole US$182 and six crates of beer.
At around 2am the following day the gang went to a service station in Glen View where they ordered two petrol attendants to lie down before stealing US$1 057 and two cellphones.
They also stole US$1 100 from a Sakunda Service Station.
The following day they took their robbery spree to Kwekwe where they went to IBREX Service Stations and stole a pistol from a security guard.
On March 1 this year the gang robbed a man, who had given them a lift to Zvishavane, of his Toyota Sprinter.
Using the robbed vehicle the gang proceeded to Buhera where they ordered a Zupco bus driver to stop.
They produced a pistol and fired one shot on the bus roof ordering everyone to lie down and surrender cash.
Takundwa and his accomplices, it is alleged, searched the 29 passengers and stole US$3 000 and 20 cellphones.
On March 13 this year Takundwa and another accomplice were seen by one Constable Jerera, a dog handler based at ZRP Rusape, lying under a tree during the night.
The pair is alleged to have tried to shoot the policeman but the firearm failed to fire and Constable Jerera released the dog, which attacked Takundwa and brought him down.
He was subsequently arrested.
Source - TH
