Cuthbert Dube and two armed accomplices allegedly robbed 43 shops and schools at gunpoint in Zhombe and Kwekwe.

POLICE in Gokwe have arrested two armed robbers who, together with Cuthbert Dube, allegedly robbed 43 shops and schools at gunpoint in Zhombe and Kwekwe.

Kelvin Dube (32) of Amaveni high density suburb and Tafadzwa Magirisa (24) of Mbizo high density suburb in Kwekwe were last week arraigned before Gokwe Magistrate, Mr Solomon Jenya, facing 43 counts of armed robbery and unlawful entry.

Dube and Magirisa pleaded not guilty and were remanded in custody to tomorrow for trial.

For the State Mr Michael Mhene alleged that during the period extending from February 18 to March 30 last year, the two accused persons and their accomplices including Cuthbert and Salam Manyakwenda raided shops in Zhombe and Redcliff in Kwekwe and went away with money, cars, furniture, mobile phones and groceries on 43 occasions.Cuthbert is already serving a 20-year jail term for stealing copper cables in Gokwe while Manyakwenda is still at large.

Mr Mhene told the court that on 22 February 2015, the duo connived with Cuthbert and Manyakwenda and armed themselves with a 303 rifle to raid shops at St Andrew’s Business Centre in Zhombe.

They allegedly robbed shop owners and individuals.

The quartet, the court heard, robbed Mr Oswald Masakadza of a Nissan Bluebird Sedan which they used as a getaway car.

They dumped the car in Kwekwe after it ran out of fuel.

The four men allegedly shared the loot and went on a drinking spree.

On March 12 at midnight, Mr Mhene said, the quartet went to Darangwe business centre in Zhombe armed with the same rifle and robbed several shops before stealing a Mazda B 1800 truck belonging to Mr Tony Chimombe at gun point.

They used it to carry the loot and sped off.

They also pounced on Chana Primary School in Kwekwe and stole cables, borehole pumps and water pipes.

The court heard that the gang used the same method to rob several other shops and individuals in Kwekwe, Zhombe and Redcliff where they stole money and goods valued at $21 485.

Mr Mhene said they ran out luck when police got a tip off from members of the public in Kwekwe leading to their arrest. Source-chronicle