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Herald Reporter
A Zimbabwe National Army officer based at 2.3 Combat Group in Magunje, has appeared in court facing charges of breaking into a ZNA garrison shop and stealing computers and cellphones worth $43 000.

Kudzai Nyereyemhuka (28) a 2nd lieutenant in the ZNA based at Magunje Barracks, appeared before Karoi magistrate Mr Sam Chitumwa recently charged with unlawful entry into premises as defined in Section 131 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23.

The court heard that Nyereyemhuka’s charge arose during the early hours of February 26 this year after conniving with one Learnmore Mupona, a private in the ZNA based at Parachute Regiment D Company Inkomo Barracks, to steal the electrical gadgets from the garrison shop.

It is alleged Nyereyemhuka and Mupona stole 40 HP laptops, 27 Vodafone cellphones and seven voice tablets among other gadgets, after they had used a knife to break 19 window panes to the shop. The value of the stolen goods is $43 094.

The duo, it is further alleged later ferried the loot to Magunje Growth Point using Nyereyemhuka’s Mazda Familiar vehicle.

While at the growth point Nyereyemhuka’s car ran out of fuel, forcing the two to abandon it after reloading the loot onto Mupona’s Toyota Serena Vehicle that later took the loot to Harare with Mupona behind the wheel.

From the abandoned car, detectives later recovered a brand new Vodafone cellphone, which matched the ones that had been reported as stolen.

Nyereyemhuka was arrested at Kemureza Business Centre a few kilometres outside Magunje Growth Point following a tip-off from members of the public.

Nyereyemhuka later led the police to Harare where Mupona was arrested before 37 HP laptops and 25 Vodafone cellphones were recovered among others items. The value of the recovered items is $38 597.

Mupona is now on the run following his escape from police custody after the vehicle ferrying him and Nyereyemhuka to Karoi from Harare had broken down at the Nyabira tollgate along the Harare-Chirundu Highway.

Nyereyemhuka who was represented by Mr Samuel Muemeki of Antonio and Partners was remanded to March 26 on $150 bail.

As part of his bail conditions Nyereyemhuka was ordered to report at CID Karoi every Monday and Friday and not to interfere with witnesses until his matter is finalised.