Young brother to the late notorious robber and murderer Edmund Edgar Masendeke kidnapped a police officer and robbed him of his vehicle before embarking on a robbing spree around the country.

Andrew Masendeke and his accomplices are now facing several charges, including robbery and car- jacking. His accomplices were Tapiwa Chimuti (29), Anyway Madala (27) and Simbarashe Machiritsa (40) of Ascot Infill high-density suburb in Gweru.

Chimuti was sentenced to 91 years, Madala 76 and Machiritsa 21 when they appeared in court. The other two accomplices, Matrimony Nyathi and Sydney Mangisi, are on the run.

They were linked to armed robbery cases committed in Bulawayo, Zvishavane, Gweru, Shurugwi, Kwekwe and Kadoma. Masendeke and the trio terrorised miners and business people in the Midlands and Bulawayo.

They got away with $25 000, a vehicle and six rifles. Police recovered the vehicle and guns which were used during the robberies. Masendeke, of Mukarati village under Chief Mukaro in Gutu, appeared before Gweru Provincial Magistrate Mrs Phathekhile Msipa yesterday facing seven counts of robbery, carjacking and kidnapping. He was not asked to plead and was remanded in custody to today