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Peter Matika, [email protected]

A CAR dealer-cum socialite from Bulawayo who was arrested for allegedly stealing a luxury vehicle from a car wash in the city is scheduled to appear in court today, for bail ruling.

Brighton Chipunza, better known by his street name “Dash,” was initially scheduled to have the hearing yesterday.
However, the hearing failed to materialise, as the presiding magistrate was occupied with other pending cases.

Chipunza’s case has garnered considerable attention due to a series of unsettling incidents that unfolded outside the courtroom on Wednesday, where he threatened the complainant, telling her to “watch her back”, before going on to insult journalists at the court.

Chipunza was arrested last Friday in connection with the theft of a South African registered Toyota Fortuner from a car wash on the outskirts of Bulawayo city centre.

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, arguing that Chipunza is a flight risk and has pending cases.
Investigations into the vehicle’s theft were set into motion shortly after a report was lodged by the owner, Ms Silibaziso Ncube.

Ncube, utilising the services of a vehicle tracking company, located 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 case of a stolen car, as authorities discovered a thread of WhatsApp chats between Chipunza and a suspected buyer, along with communications with Chitunhu.

These electronic records have placed Chipunza at the centre of the alleged crime, hinting 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 locked the vehicle and took the car keys with him to the car wash.
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 reported to the police.