Four men have appeared in court accused of posing as police officers and carrying out armed robberies in Harare, allegedly making off with more than US$168,000.
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Read E-PaperTrust Jimu, 37, Tawanda Musendo, 36, Evans Chimunsi, 46, and Tafadzwa Matigimu, 34, appeared before Harare regional magistrate Marehwanazvo Gofa facing three counts of armed robbery.
They were advised to apply for bail at the High Court and were remanded in custody to October 22.
The State alleges the four, together with an accomplice who is still at large, targeted motorists by accusing them of dangerous parking before handcuffing and robbing them.
Prosecutor Lawrence Gangarahwe told the court that on April 26 at about 5:20pm, the accused allegedly approached Tonderai Makaluwa and Nyasha Chiponda, who were seated in a Toyota Auris at the intersection of Third Street and Josiah Chinamano Street.
The suspects allegedly identified themselves as police officers and accused the two motorists of parking dangerously before ordering them to open the vehicle.
They allegedly handcuffed the pair and searched the car, where they found a satchel containing cash.
The court heard that the suspects then accused the two of money laundering and forced them into the back seat of the vehicle.
One of the accused allegedly drove away, claiming they were taking the pair to CID Headquarters to hand over the money.
Instead, the suspects allegedly drove around the city before stopping near the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission offices along Herbert Chitepo Avenue.
One complainant was allegedly dropped off after being told he was being taken into the ZACC offices, while the suspects allegedly continued with the second complainant towards the Joshua Mqabuko Nyongolo Nkomo Expressway, formerly known as Airport Road.
During the journey, one of the accused allegedly produced a pistol and pointed it at the complainant while accusing him of committing a serious offence.
The suspects allegedly stopped along the expressway and took a bag containing US$164,192 before abandoning the complainant and driving away.
The matter was subsequently reported to the police.
In a separate incident on July 15 at around 6pm, the accused allegedly targeted Oliver Tsongorera, who was seated in a Volvo parked at the corner of Sixth Avenue and Josiah Tongogara Avenue.
The suspects allegedly again claimed to be police officers and accused Tsongorera of dangerous parking before handcuffing and searching him.
They allegedly took US$700 and demanded additional money through EcoCash.
Fearing for his safety, Tsongorera reportedly contacted his friend, Tanaka Musiiwa, who sent him US$550 via EcoCash.
The suspects allegedly released Tsongorera at around 10:30pm after he had withdrawn the money.
