Intricate Details On What Transpired The Night Marondera Businessman Was Shot Dead Emerge
Horror experiences and tales of bravery summarise the fateful night.
Circumstances are that, it was a peaceful September 22 night when Chimoka and his family went to bed. Little did they know that the following morning, at around 2am, a gang of robbers would scale over their precast security wall and gain entry into their premises.
The gang used an unknown object to break into the house through the kitchen door.
Other gang members went to other rooms, while two went to the main bedroom where Chimoka and his wife were sleeping.
One was wearing a balaclava and armed with a spear, while the other had an unknown pistol.
The duo woke the couple up and threatened to shoot them if they didn’t give them money. The couple cried for help and Chimoka’s wife, Miriam, handed over US$7 900 to the robbers.
One of the robbers then stabbed Chimoka on the left side of the chest, just above the nipple, with a sharp object.
Joseph Chigodora, who was asleep in one of the spare bedrooms with his wife Audrey Chari, was woken up by the noise from the main bedroom.
When Chigodora went to investigate, he was intercepted by one of the robbers and a scuffle ensued in the dining room.
Chigodora overpowered the robber and smashed his head against the wall resulting in him sustaining injuries, prompting him to call for help.
Three other robbers came to his rescue and assaulted Chigodora, using unknown objects, inflicting head and back injuries.
The maid also heard the commotion and opened her door to check what was happening.
But, the spear-wielding robber and the one armed with the pistol, ordered her to return to her bedroom.
They ransacked her bedroom and stole her phone and US$10.
Chimoka’s daughter Memory, also heard the noise, and rushed to the main bedroom where she found her mother tied up with shoelaces.
Her mother warned her a robbery was in progress and she returned to her room.
Memory sent an SOS in the family’s WhatsApp group but, by the time help arrived, the robbers had left.
Meanwhile, the robbers have since been arrested and they briefly appeared in court where police successfully applied to further detain them, before they are formally placed on remand.
The robbers include, Josephat Muchenje, Bright Magodhi, Crispen Kado, Felix Dapi, Taenda Mudzangairi, Elias Muchipuwa and Jeremiah Tafirenyika.
One of the arrested robbers is a policeman on suspension, who was stationed at Rhodesville Police Station.
-iharare
