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Beitbridge Bureau
TWO of the four armed robbers arrested on Christmas Day for murder and a series of robberies along the Beitbridge-Masvingo and Beitbridge-Bulawayo highway appeared in court yesterday. The duo is part of a gang which had unleashed a reign of terror on motorists on a 40km radius along the Beitbridge-Masvingo and Beitbridge-Bulawayo highways.

Taurai Gwande alias Tawanda Musekwa (30) and Boniface Mushavati alias Moyo were arrested in Mvuma and Masvingo respectively, following a tip off.

Two other members of the group; Clive Shumba and Lehlohonolo Moyo were arrested in November on similar charges and are already in custody.

The quartet faces 26 armed robbery charges and one of murder.

Beitbridge magistrate Mr Innocent Bepura remanded them in custody to January 12 next year.

The prosecutor Mr Foster Abheki said the gang committed the offences between May 9 and December 19 this year.

He said in most cases the accused persons drove donkeys onto the road to disturb motorists.

The robbers would then pounce on their victims targeting money, mobile phones, laptops and electrical gadgets.

On December 19, the robbers allegedly killed a 29-year old man, who was in his car at St Joseph Primary School in Beitbridge.

They ran out of luck when Gwande was arrested in Mvuma on Christmas.

This led to the arrest of Mushavati and the recovery of stolen goods in Masvingo.

Police recovered two axes, a machete, and some work suits, iron bar and a torch which they used in committing the offences.

They also recovered; seven solar panels, six amplifiers, six mobile phones, two disco speakers, a generator, two solar batteries, an assortment of groceries and clothing.