Zimpapers Logo

Victor Maphosa, Harare Bureau
A Harare man who allegedly robbed a Chinese national of $11 300 in Belgravia, Harare, before fleeing from the scene after a fierce gunfire exchange appeared in court yesterday.

The shooting caught innocent passersby, Mr Kevin Guzah and his friend Ms Kudzai Nduku, in the crossfire, resulting in two Chinese men and a Zimbabwean also appearing in court yesterday for firing at them.

For the robbery incident, Thomson Runyowa appeared before Harare magistrate Ms Rumbidzai Mugwagwa facing charges of robbing the Chinese national.

He was remanded to March 8 and advised to approach the High Court for bail.

Allegations are that on February 19, Runyowa and his accomplices robbed the Chinese man, Mr Jiang Long, of 31 Lincon Road in Belgravia.

They had information that Mr Jiang was on his way from collecting money from one of his shops in Chipinge.

They were driving a Toyota Wish and intercepted Mr Jiang in Rusape where they robbed him of $8 300 before driving him to his residence in Belgravia where they took $3 000.

Jiang Long security guards, who were alerted of the incident approached Mr Jiang’s house and opened fire, forcing the alleged robbers to flee the scene, leaving their getaway car.

Further investigations led to the arrest of Runyowa.

During the shooting incident, it happened that Mr Guzah and Ms Nduku were passing by when they heard gun shots and decided to make a U-turn.

Two Chinese men, Luo Tingpen (27) and Li Yize (27) and their Zimbabwean accomplice Gamuchirai Nigel Zuze (23) noticed them and gave chase, before allegedly shooting at them.

The three appeared before Harare magistrate Ms Rumbidzai Mugwagwa yesteray facing attempted murder charges for allegedly injuring Mr Guzah and Ms Nduku.

They were remanded in custody to March 8 and advised to seek bail at the High Court.

The prosecutor Mr Sebastian Mutizirwa alleged that Mr Guzah was driving a Toyota Vitz in the company of Ms Nduku along Lincon Road in Belgravia.

As they approached Number 17 Lincon Road, they heard gunshots from a house.

In fear for their lives, they made an ‘about turn’ and drove towards Zuva Service Station at Belgravia.

It is alleged that Luo, Li and Zuze, who are part of a reaction team at Jinglong, had earlier received an alert from their client that he had been robbed by people driving a Toyota Wish.

They came out of the house where the shooting was taking place and chased after the Toyota Vitz that was being driven by Mr Guzah.

Mr Guzah lost control of his vehicle and crashed into one of the fuel pumps at Zuva Service Station.

The trio, who were giving chase, jumped out of their cars, approached Mr Guzah’s car and shot Ms Nduku on the pelvis and assaulted her.

Mr Guzah got out of his car and fled, but fell into a trench. One of the accomplices came and shot him on the pelvis while he was still in the trench.

The trio also assaulted Mr Guzah before shooting him on the right leg.

The court further heard that the trio took Mr Guzah to the police and left Ms Nduku behind.