4 in court for Old Nic Mine armed robbery

Four men have appeared before the Bulawayo Regional Magistrates' Court facing charges of armed robbery following an alleged plot to steal cash from Old Nic Mine.

Andile Mlilo (31), Thobani Dlodlo (47), Content Mguni (49) and Langathani Mlalazi (34) were brought before Regional Magistrate Mark Dzira. The accused were not asked to plead and were remanded in custody.

The court heard that the alleged incident dates back to June last year, when the group is said to have conspired to execute a robbery at the mine after receiving information about an impending cash delivery.

Mlilo and Dlodlo, who were reportedly employed as security guards at the mine, are alleged to have shared the information with their accomplices.

On the day in question, around 1pm, Mguni and Mlalazi, together with accomplices identified as Charles Nyandaro and another individual known only as Andile, allegedly arrived at the mine armed with an unidentified firearm.

Upon arrival, they reportedly confronted Simon Gumbo, a security guard on duty at the car park, and threatened to shoot him.

The group is alleged to have robbed Gumbo of his service firearm and a communication radio before forcing him to park his vehicle. One suspect is said to have remained guarding him while others proceeded toward the mine offices.

The complainant was not physically injured during the incident.

A police report was subsequently made, leading to the arrest of the four suspects. The stolen property is valued at approximately US$1 550, and nothing has been recovered so far.

The matter continues as investigations and court proceedings proceed.