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Thandeka Moyo Court Reporter
TWO serial robbers who allegedly terrorised motorists along the Harare-Beitbridge road have appeared in court facing murder charges. Boniface Musharavati, 39, allegedly conducted a series of robberies with his accomplice, Taurai Gwade.

They allegedly killed Onward Chiripamebiri whom they later robbed of a car before driving off with money and gadgets.

The duo on Friday appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Charity Maphosa and were advised to apply to the High Court for bail.

Magistrate Maphosa remanded Musharavati and Gwade, who are also facing 14 counts of robbery, to September 4.

Gwade was arrested in Mvuma while Musharavati was arrested in Masvingo for crimes they committed between May 9 and December, 19, 2014.

For the State, Nkathazo Dlodlo said the two men allegedly pounced on the late Chiripamebiri, who was in the company of his girlfriend, in Beitbridge on December 19 last year.

“The deceased was driving a Silver Toyota vehicle to Dulibadzimu suburb at around 7.30PM. He used a dirt road and when he reached St Joseph’s Primary School grounds, he pulled the vehicle off the road and sat in the car with the woman chatting,” said Dlodlo.

“After about 10 minutes, the woman looked back and noticed a male adult approaching from behind the car and informed Chiripamebiri. At that moment, Musharavati smashed the driver’s window with an iron bar.

“Chiripamebiri went out of the car and started fighting with Musharavati while the woman was screaming. The accused hit the woman on the right cheek and she sustained a deep cut. He ordered her to surrender her cellphone,” said Dlodlo.

Gwade used a torch and searched the vehicle while Musharavati continued fighting with Chiripamebiri.

“The two men took away the vehicle, a laptop and a cellphone all valued at $5,380. They sped off leaving the now deceased lying on the ground.

“The woman managed to flee. She was treated and discharged at a local hospital while Chiripamebiri died on his way to Bulawayo to access medical attention.”

Police sources said the two men stole items worth more than $60,000 in their crime spree, targeting motorists along the Harare-Beitbridge Highway.

The police said, as their modus operandi, the gang would drive donkeys into the road at night to force vehicles to slow down before deflating their tyres.

This would force the driver to stop and they would then attack and rob their victims.