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Mashudu Netsianda Senior Court Reporter
THREE masked armed robbers operating as a syndicate raided three supermarkets in Bulawayo on different occasions, ordering staff and shoppers to lie down at gunpoint before they went away with more than $2,000, a court heard. Bulawayo regional magistrate Trynos Wutawashe heard this when Ernest Mloyiswa, 27, of Emganwini, Buzwani Nleya, 44, of Lobengula West and Khumbulani Moyo, 49, both of Lobengula West appeared before him facing four counts of armed robbery.

The trio pleaded not guilty and was remanded in custody to September 5 for trial.
Prosecuting, Robin Mukura told how between August 2 and August 10 this year, Nleya, Moyo and Mloyiswa teamed up with Mandla Khumalo who is still at large, and raided a house in Pumula North and three shops in Magwegwe West and North and Nketa 8 and robbed the victims at gunpoint.

“On August 2 shortly after 7PM, the three accused persons in the company of Mandla Khumalo went to Zamani Phiri’s house in Pumula North wearing woolen balaclavas. The accused persons, who were armed with a silver revolver, ordered the complainant to lie down,” said Mukura.

The court was told that after a few minutes, the victim’s husband arrived home in his car and the accused fled without stealing anything.
On the same day shortly after 8PM, the accused proceeded to Flex Steel Superette in Magwegwe West pretending to be shoppers. Moyo walked into the shop wielding the firearm and ordered everyone in the shop to lie down. Nleya followed in with a knife and stood guard at the door as Moyo, Khumalo and Mloyiswa proceeded to the tills. They took a cashbox containing $800 and R900 and fled the scene.

On August 8 at about 7.35PM, the armed robbers swooped on TZ Supermarket in Nketa 8 and pulled out their firearm and threatened to shoot the security guard manning the door. They ordered everyone to lie down on the floor before they stole $650.

“On August 10, the three accused raided Saverite Supermarket in Magwegwe North shortly after 7PM and ordered everyone to lie down at gunpoint before they went away with $339.40,” Mukura said.

The court heard that on August 13 shortly after 4AM, detectives acting on a tip off went to Nleya and Moyo’s house and arrested the pair leading to the recovery of a .38 special Taurus revolver and a knife. The firearm was loaded with four rounds of ammunition.

Moyo and Nleya led detectives to Mloyiswa’s house and he was also arrested. On the same day, the three men were put on an identification parade and the victims managed to positively identify them.
The trio further made indications at the four scenes of the crime. All the stolen money was not recovered.