Harare Magistrate Mrs Loice Mukunyadze has handed down a 12-year jail term to three convicted robbers, Shepherd Chinhara, Kudakwashe Nyashanu, and Edison Donza, who are already serving life sentences. The trio was found guilty of robbing Mrs Ropafadzo Mukamba and her family in 2020.
The robbers, along with their accomplice Bigboy Munyari, were accused of posing as CID officers when they approached Mrs Mukamba’s home. They claimed to be investigating the Zimbabwe Manpower Development Fund (ZIMDEF) case, which involved Jonathan Moyo (then Minister of Higher Education).
The court heard that the robbers requested to discuss the matter behind closed doors, citing its sensitivity. Mrs Mukamba invited them into her dining room, where they promptly handcuffed and blindfolded her, claiming their partner who was investigating the ZIMDEF case had arrived.
During their questioning, the robbers asked Mrs Mukamba what she had benefited from the ZIMDEF deal. She told them she had received US$20 000 and a Mazda BT50, which was parked in the yard.
Chinhara and Nyashanu then drove away in the two vehicles parked outside, leaving their accomplices behind.
When Mrs Mukamba’s husband arrived home, he was also ordered to sit down and handcuffed. The robbers ransacked the house, finding US$47 000, R15 000, two laptops, and two Huawei cellphones. They then forced the family into Mrs Mukamba’s unregistered Honda Fit.
The robbers drove towards Beatrice and stopped at Kingston Farm. Around midnight, they tied their victims to the car seats with rope, got out of the vehicle, and set it ablaze before fleeing.
Mrs Mukamba’s husband managed to untie himself and his wife before the car was completely burnt. Beatrice police arrived at the scene and found the shell of the burnt vehicle.
In her ruling, Mrs Mukunyadze emphasized the gravity of the crime, stating that robbery involves planning and execution. She highlighted that the robbers were not first offenders and that the law mandates a long custodial sentence for robbery, with no provision for a fine.
The magistrate stressed that the court had to consider the fact that the accused were aware of the consequences of their actions before committing such a heinous act.
The additional 12-year sentence imposed on the three convicted robbers sends a strong message that such crimes will not be tolerated in Zimbabwe. The court’s decision reflects the seriousness with which robbery is viewed in the country and serves as a deterrent to potential offenders.
