Correspondent|A gang member who was part of a syndicate that went on a movie-style shooting spree and open fire battles with the police before getting away with over $25 000 lost his manhood in the shootout.
Godfrey Josi (35) allegedly lost his manhood after his gang engaged in an open fire battle with the police in Chitungwiza which also resulted in the injury of one police officer, Prince Gwashura .
Austin Ncube (27), Harmony Nyathi (29), Polite Madamombe (34), and Sangulani Chikumbutso (38) appeared before Harare magistrate Rumbidzai Mugwagwa facing six counts of armed robbery.
Wisdom Tariro (22) who is believed to be part of the syndicate was issued with a warrant of arrest and the gang was remanded in custody to November 19 .
They are represented by Tawanda Takaendesa who submitted that his clients had complaints against the police claiming that they were assaulted.
Prosecuting, Shepherd Makonde said the State would look into the assault allegations.
It is alleged that on October 20, at around 0015 hours, the gang went to Mabamba complex at Chitungwiza Town Centre where they confronted Noel Mapingura who was guarding the premises. Mapingura fled from the scene and reported the matter to the police.
He came back in the company of police officers and noted that the gang had broken into Mukuru.Com offices and set detonators at the office’s safe and got away with US$494, $364 Bond notes and a car battery.
Police officers fired warning shots at the gang to scare them off but the accused persons retaliated and shot Prince Gwashura, a police officer on the groin.
On October 16, at around 2120 hours, the armed gang allegedly proceeded to Glen Norah A and requested to see the owner of the house Tatenda Mugwenhi who was not around at that time.
It is alleged that they threatened to shoot a woman Stella Ruvengo who was at the house if she made any noise.
They demanded cash and ransacked the whole house and stole US$5 550, $375 Bond notes and a phone. They reportedly tied Ruvengo’s hands at her back using shoe laces and fled from the scene.
The State alleges that on October 17, the gang went to Samson Mutenda’s work place in Willowvale armed with pistols and disguised as potential customers.
They reportedly produced pistols and ordered Mutenda and his co-workers who were in the shop to lie down while they ransacked the offices. They alleged stole $7 000 Bond notes and two cell-phones.
On October 30, the accused persons were allegedly driving a Mercedes Benz E240 when they went to a cement retailer. They allegedly produced pistols and fired three shots at one Simbarashe Maposa shooting him on the stomach. The gang reportedly stole US$1 200.
M&T