Masendeke’s brother arrested for Robbery & Kidnapping Police officer. Notorious robber Edmond Edgar Masendeke’s younger brother Andrew has been arrested for allegedly robbing and kidnapping a police officer among a raft of charges including seven counts of robbery, attempted rape, unlawful entry and carjacking.
Edgar Masendeke was half of the infamous crime duo of the 1990s with Stephen Chidhumo. They are known – together with two others – for being the only prisoners to ever successfully escape from Chikurubi Maximum Prison in 1995.
The two armed robbers and murderers are considered among the most infamous in the country’s history.
The escapees were later re-arrested after resuming their crime spree and sentenced to death. They were hanged in 2002.
The younger Masendeke and his three accomplices together with two other suspects Matrimony Nyathi and Sydney Mangisi who are still on the run, terrorised miners and businesspeople in the Midlands province and Bulawayo getting away with more than $25 000, a vehicle and six rifles.
His accomplices Tapiwa Chimuti (29), Anyway Madala (27) and Simbarashe Machiritsa (40) who are related and are all from Ascot Infill high-density suburb in Gweru, have since been sentenced to a collective 188 years after being linked to a spate of armed robberies committed in Bulawayo, Zvishavane, Gweru, Shurugwi, Kwekwe and Kadoma. Chimuti was sentenced to 91 years, Madala 76 and Machiritsa 21.
Masendeke allegedly fled to Birchenough Bridge where he changed his name and started operating a pirate taxi. However, luck ran out for Masendeke when he was involved in an accident in Chipinge and killed one person on the spot.
He was arrested after police got a tip off.
Masendeke, of Mukarati village under Chief Mukaro in Gutu, yesterday appeared before Gweru Provincial Magistrate Mrs Phathekile Msipa facing seven counts of robbery, attempted rape, unlawful entry, carjacking and kidnapping.
He was not asked to plead and was remanded in custody to today for confirmation of his warned and cautioned statement.
The State led by Mr Ernest Mzembi alleged that during the period extending from February to June this year, Masendeke and his five accomplices committed a series of robberies in the Midlands and Bulawayo and kidnapped a police officer.