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Peter Matika – [email protected]
THE bail ruling for a 30-year-old car dealer-cum socialite in Bulawayo, Brighton Chipunza, better known by his street name “Dash,” is scheduled for tomorrow, amid reports of threats towards the complainant outside the courtroom.
The case has garnered considerable attention due to a series of unsettling incidents that have unfolded outside the courtroom.
According to witnesses, Chipunza allegedly threatened the complainant, whose allegations have brought him into the legal spotlight.
Adding to the tension, Chipunza allegedly insulted both the complainant and several journalists present in the courtroom with a middle finger hand gesture.

Before the threat, Chipunza also insulted the complainant and journalists with a hand gesture, as the court adjourned for a break in the morning.
Chipunza was arrested last Friday in connection with the theft of a South African registered Toyota Fortuner from a car wash in the outskirts of Bulawayo’s CBD.
The case has captured public attention, raising questions about car theft and the network of criminal activities that may be operating in the area.
The ruling is set to be delivered by Bulawayo regional magistrate Mrs Benhilda Chiundura.
The prosecution led by Mr Dominic Moyo is opposed to bail, sighting that Chipunza is a flight risk and has pending cases.
Investigations into the vehicle’s theft were set into motion shortly after the report was lodged by the owner, Ms Silibaziso Ncube.
Ncube, utilizing the services of a vehicle tracking company, managed to track the stolen Toyota Fortuner using GPS technology.
This high-tech approach proved vital in pinpointing the location of the vehicle, leading law enforcement officers to Harare, where they apprehended a suspected accomplice named Julius Chitunhu.

Chitunhu has since appeared in court and was remanded out of custody to December 11 on ZiG10 000 bail for the commencement of trial.
The inquiry has unravelled more than just the unfortunate case of a stolen car, as authorities discovered a thread of WhatsApp chats between Chipunza and the suspected buyer, along with communications with Chitunhu.
These electronic records have placed Chipunza at the centre of the alleged crime, hinting at a deeper involvement in a possible car theft syndicate.

According to Mr Moyo on November 18 at around 10 AM, Ms Ncube assigned her employee Jonathan Ngando Thuli 35, to take the vehicle to the Tunnel car wash for cleaning.
“He then drove the vehicle to the car wash and left it with Panashe Dube who works at the car wash. Dube cleaned the vehicle and parked it outside the car wash under a tree shed,” he said.
Mr Moyo said Dube secured the vehicle by locking all the doors and windows and took the car keys with him to the car wash where he placed them on top of the hoover and continued with his daily duties.
At around 4PM on the same day, Ms Ncube went to the car wash to collect her vehicle and discovered that it was missing.
She inquired with staff, who to her shock revealed that it had been stolen.
The matter was then reported to the police.

Members of the Vehicle Theft Squad (VTS) conducted investigations at the car wash and discovered that CCTV cameras at the facility had been deactivated.
“Dube who was left cleaning the motor vehicle stated that he saw Ncube’s vehicle leaving the premises and thought that it was being driven by her. He also checked for the car keys and discovered that they were missing,” said Mr Moyo.
It was established that the stolen motor vehicle had a tracking device affixed to it and effort is being made with the South African tracking company to activate the tracker.

Perimeter checks were done around the vicinity but nothing was found.
“All tollgates leading out of Bulawayo were advised of the stolen vehicle, Mr Moyo said.
On November 19 the tracking system indicated that the vehicle was in Harare.
“The stolen vehicle was found parked at Chitunhu’s yard with the front and rear number plates missing.”
The engine chassis number had also been ground off.
“A grinder, 2x stencils, acid and 3x spray paints were recovered from the vehicle upon interviewing Chitunhu who then implicated Chipunza.”
Three years ago Chipunza was implicated in a dirty car deal where he was accused of selling a stolen Ford Ranger King cab to another local car dealer.

He was given a BMW 325 Convertible valued at US$10 000 and US$2 500 as a top-up for the Ford Ranger, which was valued at US$12 500.
The vehicle was then discovered to have been stolen after the car dealer tried to sell it.
Chipunza has also been fingered in the theft of a prominent Bulawayo businessman’s daughter’s vehicle, which was stolen in December last year outside a posh leisure establishment.
Car theft remains a significant issue in Zimbabwe, with an alarming rise in incidents reported over recent months.
The use of sophisticated tracking systems is becoming increasingly critical for owners, as these technologies can facilitate quicker recovery of stolen vehicles.

However, they also highlight the lengths to which criminals are willing to go to exploit weaknesses in the system.
The arrest of Chipunza, a well-known figure known in Bulawayo for his vibrant social life and connections within the community, raises eyebrows and emphasizes the issue of local youths getting involved in petty and organized crime.
Community members have expressed their shock at the allegations, as Chipunza has maintained a public persona known for his charm and business acumen.
His social status may have shielded him from scrutiny until now, leading to questions about how many other local figures may be hiding behind a façade while engaging in nefarious activities.