HARARE – The Harare Magistrates’ Court has opened the trial of 18 men accused of carrying out a violent armed robbery at the Marondera farmhouse of businessman Wicknell Chivayo’s in-laws, an incident that has drawn national attention due to its scale, alleged brutality, and high-profile victims.
The accused, all men between the ages of 20 and 45, face 10 counts of armed robbery and two counts of unlawful possession of firearms. They are Kelvin Murehwa (30), Peter Maramba Vhiya (43), Takudzwa Maisvoreva (24), Garikayi Shangwa (43), Temptation Gerald Dinhidza (44), Arnold Tafireyi (38), Tawanda Mushayatu (45), Mike Mhaka (45), Obvious Mutaka (32), Kennedy Kuzvinzwa (38), Adonia Dhliwayo (39), Charles Chokera (45), Arnold Mickson Mutinhidza (43), Shingirai Bhaureni (43), Stephen Munyaradzi Chakanetsa (26), Dave Saurombe (27), Taurai Mushawemhuka (20), and Felix Karimba (25).
If convicted, each could face up to 30 years in prison, mirroring the sentence handed to their alleged accomplice Bigboy Nampungo (27), who was jailed in April after being found guilty on similar charges.
Prosecutor Lancelot Mutsokoti told the court that on the night of March 18, 2025, the gang allegedly stormed Alpha and Omega Farm in Marondera, a property owned by the Muteke family, who are Chivayo’s in-laws.
The suspects are said to have begun their assault by ambushing three night guards. The guards were reportedly overpowered, disarmed, and tied up. Their firearms, radios, and cellphones were seized, effectively cutting off the farm’s communication and security systems.
With the guards restrained, the gang allegedly forced their way into the farmhouse, where they confronted members of the Muteke family. According to the State, the intruders demanded cash and valuables, threatening the family with firearms while they ransacked the home.
The group is accused of escaping with US$74,100 in cash, a pistol, several cellphones, and assorted valuables.
Trial of 18 Suspected Armed Robbers in Chivayo In-Laws Raid Opens in Harare
What might have been a clean getaway was interrupted when one of the guards managed to free himself and alert a nearby security officer. Reinforcements soon arrived, sparking a gunfight between the robbers and the responding guard. Under fire, the suspects abandoned their raid and fled the scene, leaving behind a shaken household and traumatised employees.
The brazen nature of the robbery, its high-value haul, and the involvement of a prominent businessman’s relatives turned the case into one of the most closely watched criminal trials of the year.
Despite the detailed accusations, all 18 men pleaded not guilty. They insisted they were nowhere near the farm on the night of the robbery. Several of the accused went further, alleging that they were subjected to torture and threats by investigators in order to coerce confessions or force cooperation.
“The police threatened me with death if I refused to sign papers I did not understand,” one of the accused told the court, echoing claims made by others.
Defence lawyer Tafadzwa Muvhami, representing some of the men, argued that the case against his clients was based on unreliable testimony and tainted evidence. He urged the magistrate to consider the possibility that confessions were obtained under duress, which would render them inadmissible.
Notably, not all the suspects have legal counsel. Some are representing themselves, a factor that could complicate proceedings in such a complex case involving multiple counts, extensive evidence, and serious allegations. Legal observers have expressed concern that the absence of lawyers for part of the group could undermine the fairness of the trial.
The case is being prosecuted against the backdrop of Nampungo’s conviction earlier this year, which prosecutors say proves the existence of a wider criminal syndicate responsible for violent robberies in Mashonaland East. Authorities believe the 18 accused were part of the same network, with the Marondera farm raid being one of their most daring strikes.
The trial has reignited public fears about armed robberies in farming districts and peri-urban areas. Residents say the spate of raids has left communities on edge, with many questioning whether law enforcement has adequate resources to combat such heavily armed gangs.
“This is not just about one family. If they can attack a high-profile businessman’s relatives, then ordinary people are even more vulnerable,” said one Marondera resident outside court.
Presiding magistrate Musaiona Shortgame remanded the matter to a later date, stressing that the seriousness of the allegations required thorough examination of both the prosecution’s evidence and the defence’s claims of mistreatment.
The trial is set to continue with further testimony from security guards, police officers, and members of the Muteke family who endured the ordeal.
For now, the 18 accused remain in custody, awaiting the next phase of a case that has gripped public attention and raised pressing questions about law, order, and security in Zimbabwe’s farming communities.
Source- Bulawayo24
