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Courtney Matende Midlands Reporter
TWO suspected thieves from Bulawayo have been arrested for allegedly stealing over US$40 000 which was under the driver’s seat of a Harare-bound City Link luxury coach that had parked at a passenger pick up and drop off point in Gweru.

Joseph Tichafa Mahoto (38) of Matshobani suburb and Nhlalwehle Mqawami (35) of Pumula East suburb appeared yesterday before Gweru magistrate Ms Mildred Matuvi facing one count each of stealing US$40 455 from the bus.

The pair pleaded not guilty to the charges and was remanded in custody to August 5.

It is the State case that on July 3, Mahoto, Mqawami and one other person who is still at large, hatched a plan to steal money from Pemberai Kadugure – a bus driver for City Link coach. The court heard that the trio allegedly had information that Kadugure was in possession of a plastic bag which contained the money US$12 000, US$26 060 and US$2 395 in separate packets.

Kadugure had allegedly received the foreign currency from Tapiwa Gandiwa, Mavuto Phiri and Tinotenda Mutsetse from Bulawayo which he was supposed to handover in Harare to Tonderai Chirindo, Morden Mafunga and Eddie Shamurayi.

The court heard that Mqawami and the accused person still at large allegedly boarded the City Link bus from Bulawayo at around 2pm. Mahoto, the court heard, allegedly followed the bus to Gweru.

The court heard that Kadugure parked the bus at Total Service Station in Clonsilla, Gweru, to drop off and pick up some passengers.

Kadugure, the court heard, allegedly alighted from the bus to assist boarding passengers in putting their luggage in the boot.

Mqawami, in the company of the other person still at large, allegedly took advantage of the time Kadugure had gone outside and stole the plastic bag that contained the money under the driver’s seat.

The duo, the court heard, fled from the bus towards where Mahoto had allegedly strategically parked his getaway vehicle waiting for them.

As soon as they got into the vehicle, Mahoto sped off and drove back to Bulawayo with the loot. Kadugure noticed that the plastic bag was missing before reporting the matter to the police.