Brighton Chipunza, a Bulawayo socialite and car dealer, is facing new charges in connection with the high-profile theft of a Toyota Hilux GD6 owned by prominent businessman and former deputy mayor Gift Banda, raising further concerns about organized car theft syndicates in the region.
The vehicle, which was under the care of Banda’s daughter, was allegedly stolen in the early hours of December 24, 2023, with prosecutor Dominic Moyo revealing that Chipunza used stolen original car keys previously left in his vehicle by vehicle tracker Liberty Bukhosi Mlambo to facilitate the crime.
Despite Mlambo’s requests for the return of the keys, Chipunza failed to comply, which led authorities to suspect his involvement in the theft.
This incident comes amidst ongoing legal troubles for Chipunza, who is already facing charges for the theft of a South African-registered Toyota Fortuner from a Bulawayo car wash in November 2024, wherein he was allegedly assisted by co-accused Amen Matayi Ncube and Julius Chitunhu.
The GPS tracking technology used for the Fortuner subsequently traced the vehicle to Harare, culminating in multiple arrests and exposing a potential car theft network.
The court’s denial of bail for Chipunza has sparked public interest, as magistrate Benhilda Chiundura cited significant flight risk and possible witness interference as reasons for her ruling.
Authorities have indicated that electronic communications, including WhatsApp messages, between Chipunza and suspected accomplices point to an organized and systematic approach to vehicle thefts.
Ncube and Chitunhu are also set to appear in court on December 11, with reports indicating that Ncube hid the stolen Fortuner at his Montrose residence before attempting to transfer it to Harare for disposal.
The series of thefts involving Chipunza have raised alarm about the prevalence of such criminal activities, prompting officials to intensify their investigations.
Law enforcement agencies are now working diligently to expose the entire network linked to Chipunza’s alleged criminal behavior and bring all perpetrators to justice.
Chipunza’s upcoming court date on December 11 will be pivotal as law enforcement aims to piece together these events and identify all individuals involved in the crimes.
Public speculation continues to grow regarding the extent of Chipunza’s involvement and whether he operates independently or as part of a larger syndicate.
As investigations continue, police remain steadfast in their commitment to unveil the full scope of Chipunza’s alleged activities and dismantle any associated networks to alleviate community fears.
