MP's night club loses US$3,8K

Five suspects have been arrested in connection with the theft of nearly US$3,900 from a nightclub and butchery owned by a Member of Parliament in Harare.

The accused - Kelvin Zulu (20), Tinotenda V. Marecha (26), Portia Ngorima (34), Pretty Ngorima (21) and Mike Vheremu (21) - appeared before the Harare Magistrates Court facing theft charges, with magistrate Ruth Moyo presiding over the matter.

The complainant is Patricia Kundhlande (54), a Member of Parliament and business owner, who runs Mother Sharks Butchery and Night Club in Manresa Park, Harare.

Prosecutors allege that the suspects, together with an accomplice still at large, broke into the business premises around 0030 hours on Sunday and stole cash from a safe.

Court proceedings heard that Kelvin Zulu allegedly had access to the safe keys and worked with Washington Sithole, who remains on the run.

It is further alleged that Marecha, a taxi driver, was waiting nearby in a Toyota Aqua to facilitate the getaway, while the Ngorima sisters assisted in transporting a bag containing the stolen cash into the vehicle.

Zulu is said to have remained at the scene after the theft while the others fled.

The court heard that the suspects were later split up, with Marecha transporting Sithole to Mabvuku before handing him over to Mike Vheremu, who allegedly drove him onward to Chivhu.

The group is accused of sharing US$20 each from the stolen money, which totals US$3,874. None of the cash has been recovered.

The matter came to light after Kundhlande filed a police report, leading to the arrest of the suspects.

Prosecutor Takudzwa Jambawo is handling the case as investigations continue into the remaining suspect.