THE traumatic experience, which a Marondera family was subjected to during an armed robbery, in which their father was killed, has been revealed.
Businessman Lucas Chimoka was killed during that robbery
after being speared by one of the thugs who attacked his home.
Stories of bravery, including one in which a resident at
the house fought back before the robbers overpowered him, have emerged.
Yesterday, the robbers briefly appeared in court where
police successfully applied to further detain them, before they are formally
placed on remand.
Josephat Muchenje, Bright Magodhi, Crispen Kado, Felix
Dapi, Taenda Mudzangairi, Elias Muchipuwa and Jeremiah Tafirenyika appeared
briefly at the Harare Magistrates’ Courts.
Some of the suspects at court.
A warrant for further detention was granted to allow police
to finalise their investigations before they are placed on remand.
They will be back in court tomorrow after the finalisation
of investigations.
Circumstances are that Chimoka and his family went to bed
on September 22. The following morning, at around 2am, the gang scaled over a
precast security wall and gained entry into his premises.
The gang used an unknown object to break into the house,
through the kitchen door.
Other gang members went to other rooms, while two went to
the main bedroom where Chimoka and his wife were sleeping.
One was wearing a balaclava and armed with a spear, while
the other had an unknown pistol.
The duo woke up the couple and threatened to shoot them if
they didn’t give them money.
The couple cried for help and Chimoka’s wife, Miriam,
handed over US$7 900 to the robbers.
One of the robbers then stabbed Chimoka on the left side of
the chest, just above the nipple, with a sharp object.
Joseph Chigodora, who was asleep in one of the spare
bedrooms with his wife Audrey Chari, was woken up by the noise from the main
bedroom.
When Chigodora went to investigate, he was intercepted by
one of the robbers and a scuffle ensued in the dining room.
Chigodora overpowered the robber and smashed his head
against the wall resulting in him sustaining injuries, prompting him to call
for help.
Three other robbers came to his rescue and assaulted
Chigodora, using unknown objects, inflicting head and back injuries.
The maid also heard the commotion and opened her door to
check what was happening.
But, the spear-wielding robber and the one armed with the
pistol, ordered her to return to her bedroom.
They ransacked her bedroom and stole her phone and US$10.
Chimoka’s daughter Memory, also heard the noise, and rushed
to the main bedroom where she found her mother tied up with shoelaces.
Her mother warned her a robbery was in progress and she
returned to her room.
Memory sent an SOS in the family’s WhatsApp group but, by
the time help arrived, the robbers had left.
One of the arrested robbers is a policeman on suspension,
who was stationed at Rhodesville Police Station.
Pardon Dziva appeared for the State. H Metro
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