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Fungai Lupande Court Reporter
A suspected armed robber who hid in a taxi boot armed with a pistol, waiting to pounce on a passenger, has appeared in court. Tapiwa Ushewekunze (23) appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Francis Mapfumo. He is facing armed robbery charges and Mr Mapfumo advised him to apply for bail at the High Court.

He is expected in court on September 9. The court heard that Ushewekunze is part of a syndicate of robbers who terrorised passengers after offering them transport. Prosecutor Mr Sebastian Mutizirwa alleged that on July 21 Ushewekunze was in the company of Ashwet Pasirayi, who is on the run, and Clemence Mutyandaedza, who has already appeared in court on the same charges.

The trio were driving a silver Nissan Wingrod and offered Tyron Chigwanire transport from Unity D, Seke, Chitungwiza, to Harare city centre. It is alleged that Ushewekunze was hiding in the boot and the other was driving, while the third pretended to be a passenger. After travelling a short distance Ushewekunze emerged from the boot armed with a pistol.

He advised the passenger that he had boarded a vehicle belonging to robbers. It is alleged that Ushewekunze pointed the firearm at Chigwanire before ordering him to surrender cash and valuables. Fearing for his life Chigwanire complied and gave the trio his cell phone and $55. The car was stopped and they ordered Chigwanire to disembark.

They sped off. On July 22 the trio sold the stolen cell phone to William Phiri at Machipisa shopping centre. Police detectives managed to trace the accused persons after the recovery of the cell phone.