Gwanda man in dock for US$370 supermarket raid

A 35-year-old man from Gwanda has appeared in court facing allegations of participating in an armed robbery at a supermarket in Bulawayo, where US$370 was stolen at gunpoint.

Philani Sibanda of Seshongwe Village stood before Western Commonage regional magistrate Pasipanodya Maturure, charged with armed robbery. He was remanded in custody to December 8 for trial proceedings to commence.

According to prosecutor Christina Manyika, the incident occurred on July 26 at around 1PM when Sibanda and three unidentified accomplices drove to Hamara Supermarket in Pumula East in a blue, unregistered Honda Fit. The group allegedly entered the shop wearing balaclavas and wielding pistols, before ordering customers and workers to lie on the floor.

The court heard that Sibanda remained at the entrance to keep watch, while his accomplices raided the tills and took US$370. The robbery was recorded on the store's CCTV system, aiding subsequent investigations.

On November 21, police detectives from CID Homicide received information that Sibanda had been spotted at a sports club in Bulawayo. Officers moved in and arrested him, recovering a Girsan semi-automatic pistol loaded with 15 live rounds of ammunition during the operation. A police manhunt is ongoing for the remaining suspects, who are still at large.