by Simbarashe Sithole/ Gideon Madzikatidze
Econet Mvurwi branch employee, Elias Mutonya (39), is in soup after he hatched a plan with his brother in-law, Rashid Adam Chipanga, and three other accomplices to rob cash and property valued at US$62 687,00 from his employer.
Mutonya was dragged to Bindura court with his three accomplices, Tafadzwa Mukanha (24), Munyaradzi Mucherahodzi (29) and Edson Murambidzi (34) while Chipanga is on the run.
Magistrate Amos Mbobo remanded the suspects in custody to September 12.
The state led by Clever Nyapfani alleges that sometime in May 2025, Mutonya hatched a plan with his brother in-law, Chipanga (who is still at large) to rob Econet Wireless Mvurwi branch where Chipanga then linked with Takudzwa Makanha (24), Munyaradzi Mucherahodzi (29) and Edson Murambidzi (34) to embark on an armed robbery plot.
On May 8, at around 18:30 hours, Mutonya supplied information to the effect that there was a large amount of cash stored at his workplace (Econet Shop, Mvurwi branch) and there were two guards on duty of which one was armed.
Mahaka, Mucherahodzi and 4 others who are still at large wore black hoodies (jackets) and jeans whilst armed with an unidentified pistol, iron bars and tyre cables.
The accused then approached Stansly Sosera, a security guard at Econet Wireless, Mvurwi branch where they pointed at him with a 38-inch special revolver, manhandled him, before tieng him with tyre cables and forcing him to open the door.
Upon gaining entry into the shop, the accused took cash amounting to US$55 000-00, 32 boxed cellphones, 2 Wi-Fi routers and one black ThinkPad laptop which they all vanished with using a their getaway vehicle.
As evidence linking to the commission of crime, Mahaka, and Murambidzi were found in possession of two, Nokia C12 cellphone, Samsung A16 cellphone respectively which they took from Econet shop, Mvurwi.
Mucherahodzi was also found with tyre cables which they used to tie the security guard who was on duty. The firearms, a 38″ Taurus revolver and 2× point 38 special revolvers which were used to commit the offence were recovered from the accused persons.
When arrested, the suspects implicated Mutonya as the person who was supplying information that there was a large amount of cash stored at his workplace.