A Harare court has handed down a hefty prison sentence to Ashton Siziva, a member of a gang that robbed passengers on a Blue Circle bus travelling from Harare to Beitbridge.
The sentence of 84 years in prison was handed down by the Chiredzi Magistrates’ Court on 18 July 2024, following Siziva’s guilty plea to 37 counts of robbery.
The National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ) confirmed the details of the case on X, stating that Siziva, along with Talent Mlaudzi (20), Saul Dadirai (23) and Pheneas Shumba (25), were arrested in connection with the incident. The gang’s mastermind, Elphase Mugudubudze, remains at large.
In the early hours of 18 July, the gang’s plan unfolded. Shumba, posing as a passenger, approached the conductor and requested to disembark at Vilivili bus stop. When the bus stopped, Mugudubudze boarded the vehicle, armed with a C75 9mm pistol. He threatened the driver, while the other accused individuals produced okapi knives and terrorised the passengers.
The gang forced the driver to drive the bus to a secluded location, where they switched off the engine and lights. They then ordered the terrified passengers to surrender their belongings before fleeing the scene.
The court sentenced him to 12 years imprisonment for each of the first six counts. He was further sentenced to 12 years imprisonment for each of the remaining 31 counts, with the sentences for counts 7 to 37 running concurrently. This resulted in an effective 84-year prison sentence for Siziva.
The remaining three accused individuals, Mlaudzi, Dadirai and Shumba, are scheduled to appear in court on 11 September for the continuation of their trial.
