Man sentenced to 35 years for fatal robbery of tobacco farmer
In a recent verdict, the High Court has handed down a 35-year prison sentence to Jacket Chimunhondo, a Rushinga man, for the murder of a tobacco farmer during a failed robbery attempt. The conviction followed a comprehensive trial presided over by High Court judge Justice Lucy Mungwari, who ruled that Chimunhondo would serve the entire sentence.
According to court documents, the wife of Chimunhondo’s accomplice, Nomore Mavhura, informed her husband of the deceased farmer’s possession of a substantial sum resulting from the sale of his tobacco crop. Subsequently, Mavhura conspired with Chimunhondo to rob the farmer, and Chimunhondo willingly travelled to Mavhura’s residence for that purpose.
On the night of the ill-fated robbery, armed with a knife they had acquired earlier that day, the pair arrived at the farmer’s homestead under the cover of darkness. They located the victim and forcefully entered the hut where he slept.
A struggle ensued when the farmer resisted, and during the altercation, Chimunhondo stabbed the victim twice—once on the cheek and once on the chest—leading to his death just ten minutes later. However, their efforts to obtain the money proved futile.
The State argued that the murder occurred under aggravating circumstances, a point that the defense counsel did not contest, as it was indisputable that the crime was committed during a robbery.
Justice Mungwari concurred that the murder was indeed committed under aggravating circumstances. She highlighted the premeditation involved, as the defendants had discussed the plan and even purchased a knife specifically for the robbery. Justice Mungwari emphasized that they callously took the farmer’s life before fleeing the scene, and the victim died instantly.
While acknowledging that the presumptive penalty for murder committed under aggravating circumstances is now 20 years, Justice Mungwari clarified that this law came into effect only in the latter half of 2023, while the offense occurred in 2020. Consequently, she explained that the court was bound by the sentences prescribed for such crimes, which include death, life imprisonment, or a definite term of at least 20 years.
Noting that the deceased was a young man of 29 in good health prior to his demise, Justice Mungwari highlighted the autopsy findings, which revealed stab wounds, including a 15cm long and 10cm deep wound in the victim’s chest. The use of a knife as a lethal weapon and the targeted area of the body further exacerbated the gravity of the crime. The judge emphasized that the loss of life could never be replaced.
Chimunhondo’s accomplice, Nomore Mavhura, had already been convicted and was serving a 30-year prison sentence. Considering Chimunhondo’s lack of remorse and the potential risk of reoffending, Justice Mungwari decided on a 35-year imprisonment for him, surpassing the sentence given to his accomplice.
The verdict serves as a stern reminder that acts of violence and robbery will be met with severe consequences, as the court aims to protect society and uphold justice.
