By Own Correspondent| Two men from Chitungwiza have been hauled to court for stealing the town’s only traffic light during last week’s #ShutdownZimbabwe protests.

Takemore Bhunu (27) of Glen View 3 and Godsave Mukore (25) of Chitungwiza appeared however pleaded innocent to the charges levelled against them when they appeared before Chitungwiza magistrate Blessing Murwisi Wednesday.

The duo were remanded in custody pending the continuation of trial Thursday.

The pair claimed the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) “planted evidence” against them as they were at home when the alleged offence was committed.

Ms Tendai Shonhayi prosecuted.

It is the state’s case that on January 14 at around 1100hours, Gabriel Kawara (42), who is employed by Choppies Chitungwiza Town Centre branch, closed the supermarket following threats of violence.

Choppies lost goods worth over $400 000

At around 9am, Bhunu, Mukore and accomplices still at large, armed themselves with stones, logs and iron bars and barricaded Mharapara Road at C-Junction with burning tyres.

They destroyed the traffic lights at C-Junction.

They took the traffic lights with them.

The two proceeded to Choppies Supermarket where they forcibly opened the doors and stole goods before fleeing the scene.

Police investigations revealed that Bhunu and Mukore sold some of the goods to passers-by.

They hid some along a stream behind Tafa Shopping Centre in Unit D.

Kawara later received information about the looting and made a report to the police.

Bhunu was later arrested and implicated Mukore.-StateMedia