He is among the two suspects who survived a shootout at
ex-police detective Inspector Joseph Nemaisa’s house in Chadcombe, Harare.
It is now emerging that Takura was part of a group that
robbed victims in well-executed movie style raids, escaping with over US$52 000
in cash and valuables running into thousands of dollars.
In all cases recorded, they were said to have been armed
heavily, brandishing war rifles and wearing balaclavas, which are synonymous
with armed gangs in western movies.
The gang tried, by all means, to leave no traces of
evidence.
An AK-47 is mentioned in all the alleged cases of armed
robbery that Takura and his gang executed.
Contacted for comment on the firearms — which are suspected
to be stolen from the army — Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) spokesperson,
Lieutenant Colonel Elphios Makotore, asked for e-mailed questions but had not
responded at the time of publication.
Takura reportedly turned rogue after his dismissal from the
police force for a misdemeanour in 2018, before he teamed up with five others
for armed robbery sprees.
Police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi,
confirmed that indeed Takura was an ex-member of the police force who was
dismissed three years ago.
“We said it during investigations. We issued a statement
that Takura was a member of the police who was dismissed in 2018,” he said.
Takura was allegedly part of a gang of at least five men
that raided the home of Nemaisa a fortnight ago.
Nemaisa, who was not home, reacted to a distress call from
his son and rushed home and within minutes he engaged the gang, who were all
wearing balaclavas, killing three on the spot, two of them soldiers.
Takura and another soldier, Private Virimai Nyandoro (37),
escaped the shooting before they were later arrested.
The ‘rogue’ cop and his gang’s modus operandi was one
plucked off a script of western movies, as they pounced on unsuspecting victims
in balaclavas, armed with arms of war. They would rob their victims of their
valuables before disappearing into the night without firing shots. When Takura
and his gang appeared in court, it emerged that they are suspected to be behind
12 unrelated cases of armed robbery.
Charges against Takura are that they robbed three
complainants, Mr James Rikonda, Mr Learnmore Ushe and Mr Tichaona Maworere of
Hatfield. On November 5, 2021 at around 3am, Mr Rikonda was sleeping at home
when he heard footsteps in the passage.
Takura, who was in the company of four other accomplices,
suddenly appeared at the door. One of them was brandishing a war rifle, an AK47
rifle, and the other a pistol.
The court was told that the gang ordered Mr Rikonda and his
wife to lie down and remain silent, while they demanded cash.
They allegedly ransacked the house and stole US$11 550, an
iPhone 12 pro max, a pair of Timberland shoes, a baby bag, a Rolex wrist watch,
and a Norinco pistol.
Takura and his gang, it is alleged, then demanded keys for
Mr Rikonda’s Toyota Hilux GD6 and force-marched him and his wife into the
vehicle. They drove him to his workplace where he was ordered to open the safe,
which was emptied of US$10 000.
Mr Ushe, who is Mr Rikonda’s neighbour, fell victim when he
was found standing outside his room when the gang returned to the Mr Rikonda
residence.
He was allegedly assaulted and robbed of a laptop and a
Xiaomi Note 7 mobile phone.
They also allegedly robbed Mr Maworere of five mobile
phones, six pairs of shoes, jewellery and two laptops.
Mr Rikonda’s stolen Norinco pistol was abandoned by the
robbers at Nemaisa’s house during the robbery. Takura was the first to be
charged and investigations were still in progress in the Nemaisa robbery in
which over US$800, a laptop and shotgun were stolen.
Takura was remanded in custody to December 28 by Harare
magistrate, Ms Barbra Mateko.
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