Two employees of Thunderbird 42 Mine, owned by former Gweru councillor Charles Simbi, have appeared before the Gweru Magistrate Courts on armed robbery charges. Nyasha Osward Simbi, 27, and Alex Simbi, 42, both relatives of Charles Simbi, are among seven accused of carrying out an armed robbery at MT Mine in Gweru on February 8, 2025, Mining Zimbabwe can report.
By Rudairo Mapuranga
Nyasha and Alex Simbi, both from Gweru, were allegedly part of a gang that stormed MT Mine at around 3 AM, armed with a pistol, machetes, and knobkerries, demanding cash and gold. The other accused are Kimton Sibanda, 25, Samu Sibanda, 24, Takudzwa Nyoni, 33, Hercluse Nhongo, 29, and Bright Ndlovu, 43, who are from various locations across Gweru, Lower Gwelo, Bulawayo, and Zhombe.
The seven were arrested a day later on February 9, 2025, and now face two counts of armed robbery and one count of assault. According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the group threatened two workers at MT Mine, Shepherd Kutse and Norman Mahlani, with a pistol and knobkerries before assaulting them with machetes. During the attack, the suspects allegedly stole a Samsung A33 from Kutse and a Samsung S23 from Mahlani.
In a separate incident, the gang is also accused of assaulting Stephen Ndlovu with machetes and knobkerries, demanding cash and gold. Although Ndlovu managed to escape, he sustained a deep cut on his left leg during the attack.
Witnesses and victims identified the suspects, leading to their arrest. The accused were remanded in custody until February 25, 2025, and are being represented by lawyer Esau Mandipa of Mandipa, Makwara, and Chikukwa Legal Practitioners.
In addition to this case, Charles Simbi, the owner of Thunderbird 42 Mine and father of one of the accused, is facing separate fraud charges related to the alleged forgery of land ownership documents with his wife, Zodwa Thembinkosi, to seize mining claims near Gweru.
