Double misfortune as robbery victim kidnapped on her way to court
Captors demand she withdraws case against their colleague
By Auther Chimbgwa
A Chitungwiza woman was Friday waylaid on her way to court and bundled into a vehicle by four men who drove her to a bushy area and demanded that she withdraws a case of robbery against their colleague.
The victim, Memory Matanga, was set to testify against robbery suspect Alouis Luciano (28) in court on the very day.
Acting police spokesperson for Harare Province Assistant Inspector Faith Mapisa confirmed police had received a case of kidnapping from Matanga.
Matanga had earlier reported a case of robbery at St Mary’s police station on 14 October 2025 and named Luciano as her suspect.
Luciano was arrested with the matter later taken to Chitungwiza magistrates’ court on 16 October 2025.
The suspect had been remanded in custody to 14 November 2025.
On 14 November at around 7am, the victim was on her way to attend court when she was confronted by her alleged kidnappers.
“Along the way in Zengeza 1 area, she was accosted by four unknown male adults who were driving a white Toyota motor vehicle with unknown registration plates,” said Mapisa.
“The four male adults called the victim to their motor vehicle and she complied.
“They asked her to get into their car whilst accusing her of causing the arrest of their colleague Alouis Luciano.
“She refused.
“Two suspects who were occupying the back seat then disembarked, grabbed her and forced her into their vehicle.
“The suspects drove towards Harare city centre along Seke road.
“Along the way, they then turned into Delpot Road and drove towards Manyame Airbase.
“After passing through a boom gate, they got into a bushy area and parked their motor vehicle.
“The suspects then offered the complainant cash amounting to US$200, ordering her to withdraw the robbery case, and she kept on refusing.
“The suspects then threatened the victim with unspecified action if she did not withdraw the robbery charges.
“Owing to duress, the victim later gave in to their demands for the sake of gaining her freedom.”
It was then that the suspects gave her her cellphone and further threatened her with unknown actions if she did not go on to withdraw the charges.
They then released her.
Matanga then went to Chitungwiza court where she discovered she had already been issued with a warrant of arrest for skipping court,
She then made a report at Chitungwiza police station.
The matter is now being investigated by detectives from CID Chitungwiza with no arrests confirmed yet.
