News / National
Matambanadzo up for another armed robbery charge
04 May 2012 at 07:01hrs | Views
Convicted criminal mastermind Luckmore Matambanadzo (37), who is appealing against a 12-year jail sentence for a series of carjackings in the country, yesterday appeared at the Kwekwe Magistrates Court facing yet another armed robbery charge.
Matambanadzo is a convicted armed robber who is out on bail pending appeal after being handed a 12-year jail term last year.
Matambanadzo is accused of stealing $70 170 from alleged Mbizo gold dealers on February 11.
It is the States case that in the company of Shadreck Chioza, Lionel Zvarivadza (both in remand), Terrence Makoni and Joseph Ndlovu (both still at large), Matambanadzo, armed with a Mark IV revolver and two more guns and pretending to be police detectives, pounced on a house in Mbizo 12.
The house belongs to Madzibaba Clifford Sibanda of Madzibaba Bensons Apostolic Church, who was famed for the discovery of Sherwood Block, the rich alluvial goldfields near Kwekwe early this year.
After they were allowed into the house, the five allegedly demanded cash from Shepard Madanire, Sibandas employee.
The State alleges Matambanadzos gang managed to get $10 000 from Madanire, but met Hlanai Vakira, also employed by Sibanda as a runner who had come to leave $60 000 at the house.
Matambanadzo, who was implicated in the robbery by his co-accused, is alleged to have held a gun over Vakira, searched him and took the money before driving away in an unmarked white Mazda MPV.
He denied the charges when he appeared before Magistrate Sthembiso Ncube and was remanded in custody to May 14 after the State opposed bail.
He is alleged to have been the mastermind of a series of high-profile armed robberies in and around Harare alongside the late equally notorious Gift Tyres Mwale and John Shana who died in hospital last year.
Matambanadzo has been in court for a series of armed robberies in Harare and other parts of the country since 2003.
Matambanadzo is a convicted armed robber who is out on bail pending appeal after being handed a 12-year jail term last year.
Matambanadzo is accused of stealing $70 170 from alleged Mbizo gold dealers on February 11.
It is the States case that in the company of Shadreck Chioza, Lionel Zvarivadza (both in remand), Terrence Makoni and Joseph Ndlovu (both still at large), Matambanadzo, armed with a Mark IV revolver and two more guns and pretending to be police detectives, pounced on a house in Mbizo 12.
The house belongs to Madzibaba Clifford Sibanda of Madzibaba Bensons Apostolic Church, who was famed for the discovery of Sherwood Block, the rich alluvial goldfields near Kwekwe early this year.
After they were allowed into the house, the five allegedly demanded cash from Shepard Madanire, Sibandas employee.
The State alleges Matambanadzos gang managed to get $10 000 from Madanire, but met Hlanai Vakira, also employed by Sibanda as a runner who had come to leave $60 000 at the house.
Matambanadzo, who was implicated in the robbery by his co-accused, is alleged to have held a gun over Vakira, searched him and took the money before driving away in an unmarked white Mazda MPV.
He denied the charges when he appeared before Magistrate Sthembiso Ncube and was remanded in custody to May 14 after the State opposed bail.
He is alleged to have been the mastermind of a series of high-profile armed robberies in and around Harare alongside the late equally notorious Gift Tyres Mwale and John Shana who died in hospital last year.
Matambanadzo has been in court for a series of armed robberies in Harare and other parts of the country since 2003.
Source - news
