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Peter Matika – [email protected]

A 30-YEAR-OLD old Bulawayo car dealer-cum socialite is set to appear in court this morning in connection with the theft of a South African registered Toyota Fortuner, stolen from a car wash in the CBD last week.
According to documents gleaned by this publication, Brighton Chipunza popularly known as “Dash” has been placed at the centre of the crime, after his WhatsApp chats with the supposed buyer and his accomplice in Harare were discovered.
The vehicle was recovered from a suspected accomplice named Julius Chitubhu in Harare, after the owner of the vehicle Silibaziso Ncube, through the assistance of a vehicle tracking company and police detectives located it using GPS.
Chitunhu has since appeared in court and was remanded out of custody to December 11 on ZiG10 000 bail for the commencement of trial.
Chipunza’s case was meant to kick off yesterday but failed to do so after the State and his defence failed to reach an agreement on interviewing the investigating officer.

Chipunza, who adorned a fade haircut, khaki prison garb and labelled sneakers, while in leg irons, preferred not to interact with other inmates while awaiting his case.
It was reported that on November 18 at around 1000 AM, 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 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,” read the document.
It was reported that at around 4PM on the same day, 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.”

“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, read the document.

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 prominent Bulawayo businessman Gift Banda’s daughter’s vehicle, which was stolen in December last year at a swanky leisure establishment.

More to follow…