Bindura lawyer Elatone Bonongwe convicted over Mt Darwin armed robbery that injured council engineer

Bindura lawyer Elatone Bonongwe convicted over Mt Darwin armed robbery that injured council engineer
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A Bindura-based legal practitioner, Elatone Bonongwe, has been convicted by the High Court for masterminding an armed robbery at a Mt Darwin home that left a Pfura Rural District Council engineer, Emson Chitsungo, seriously injured.

The case was heard before Justice Pisirayi Kwenda, who convicted Bonongwe and five co-accused on charges linked to the October 2025 attack. The court set pre-sentencing proceedings for 11 March 2026.

Also convicted were Musa Gandi, Agnes Kunaka, Terrence Musingwimi, Justin James (alias James Chidhakwa, also known as Justin Mwale) and Tafadzwa Obrey Chipashu.

According to evidence presented in court, the robbery plan was hatched on 5 October 2025. Bonongwe allegedly recruited his uncle, Gandi, to assemble a team. The court heard that Gandi had previously been represented by Bonongwe in a separate robbery matter.

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The gang travelled to Mt Darwin in a Toyota Sienta, allegedly carrying an AK47, a bayonet knife and iron bars. The court heard Bonongwe identified the complainant’s house before separating from the group, after which the attackers scaled a precast wall to enter the property.

Once inside, the engineer was assaulted while the group demanded cash and valuables. The court heard he was burnt with a hot iron and sustained fractures to his forearm bones, as well as swollen soles on both feet.

The assailants ransacked the house and stole clothes, electrical gadgets and US$1 600 in cash, with the total value of stolen property put at US$30 049.

Police later intercepted the suspects at a roadblock in Mazowe as they travelled towards Harare, the court heard.

The convictions are expected to be of significant interest to residents across Mashonaland Central, including Bindura, Mt Darwin and Mazowe, where communities have repeatedly raised concerns about violent crime and the safety of public officials and households.

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