News / Local
Econet employee in court over US $62,000 armed robbery plot
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Elias Mutonya (39)
Bindura - An Econet Wireless employee stationed at the Mvurwi branch, Elias Mutonya (39), has been dragged to court after allegedly masterminding an armed robbery that saw over US\$62,000 worth of cash and property stolen from his employer.
Mutonya allegedly connived with his brother-in-law, Rashid Adam Chipanga, and three other accomplices: Tafadzwa Mukanha (24), Munyaradzi Mucherahodzi (29), and Edson Murambidzi (34), to stage the heist. Chipanga is still at large.
The four appeared before Bindura magistrate Amos Mbobo, who remanded them in custody to September 12.
According to the state, led by prosecutor Clever Nyapfani, the plot was orchestrated in May 2025, when Mutonya informed Chipanga about a large sum of cash stored at the Econet Mvurwi branch, where he worked. Chipanga allegedly roped in the other suspects to execute the robbery.
On May 8 at around 6:30 PM, Mutonya provided inside information, including the security setup - two guards on duty, with one armed.
Later that evening, the suspects - wearing black hoodies and jeans, and armed with an unidentified pistol, iron bars, and tyre cables - approached security guard Stansly Sosera at the Econet premises. They pointed a .38 Special revolver at him, assaulted him, tied him with tyre cables, and forced their way into the shop.
Once inside, they allegedly stole; US$ 55,000 in cash, 32 boxed mobile phones, 2 Wi-Fi routers and 1 black Lenovo ThinkPad laptop.
They then fled the scene in a getaway vehicle.
During the investigation, police recovered evidence linking the suspects to the crime:
Mahaka and Murambidzi were found in possession of a Nokia C12 and Samsung A16, respectively, believed to have been stolen during the robbery.
Mucherahodzi was found with tyre cables allegedly used to restrain the security guard.
Three firearms were recovered: a .38 Taurus revolver and two .38 Special revolvers, suspected to have been used in the robbery.
Upon arrest, the accused implicated Mutonya as the inside man who provided crucial information about the cash holdings at the Econet shop.
Police are still pursuing Rashid Chipanga, who remains on the run.
Mutonya allegedly connived with his brother-in-law, Rashid Adam Chipanga, and three other accomplices: Tafadzwa Mukanha (24), Munyaradzi Mucherahodzi (29), and Edson Murambidzi (34), to stage the heist. Chipanga is still at large.
The four appeared before Bindura magistrate Amos Mbobo, who remanded them in custody to September 12.
According to the state, led by prosecutor Clever Nyapfani, the plot was orchestrated in May 2025, when Mutonya informed Chipanga about a large sum of cash stored at the Econet Mvurwi branch, where he worked. Chipanga allegedly roped in the other suspects to execute the robbery.
On May 8 at around 6:30 PM, Mutonya provided inside information, including the security setup - two guards on duty, with one armed.
Later that evening, the suspects - wearing black hoodies and jeans, and armed with an unidentified pistol, iron bars, and tyre cables - approached security guard Stansly Sosera at the Econet premises. They pointed a .38 Special revolver at him, assaulted him, tied him with tyre cables, and forced their way into the shop.
They then fled the scene in a getaway vehicle.
During the investigation, police recovered evidence linking the suspects to the crime:
Mahaka and Murambidzi were found in possession of a Nokia C12 and Samsung A16, respectively, believed to have been stolen during the robbery.
Mucherahodzi was found with tyre cables allegedly used to restrain the security guard.
Three firearms were recovered: a .38 Taurus revolver and two .38 Special revolvers, suspected to have been used in the robbery.
Upon arrest, the accused implicated Mutonya as the inside man who provided crucial information about the cash holdings at the Econet shop.
Police are still pursuing Rashid Chipanga, who remains on the run.
Source - Byo24News
