admindestinations has been jailed for 12 years effective.
Isaac Mandizha (43) admitted to two counts of theft of a motor vehicle when he was arraigned before regional magistrate Mr Walter Chikwanha.
Mr Chikwanha sentenced him to 16 years imprisonment on all counts, but suspended one year on condition that he restitutes one of the drivers US$500 on or before May 30 this year.
A further three years were suspended on condition of good behaviour.
Mr Editor Mavuto prosecuted.
The complainant in this case is Mr Peter Munyoro, who works for Ayoba Taxi, as a driver.
The agreed facts are that on May 11 this year, Mr Munyoro was parking his taxi, a Toyota Raum, at the corner of Kwame Nkrumah Avenue and Chinhoyi Street waiting for customers.
At 10pm the same night he was approached by Mandizha, who was in the company of his three accomplices, Alfanet Alfanet, Admire Chiwara and an unidentified woman.
The taxi driver charged them US$7 for a trip to Warren Park.
The gang moved away from the taxi for a discussion and returned to the car without the woman and got into the vehicle.
Mandizha sat on the front seat while his accomplices were at the back.
Upon arrival at OK Marimba in Belvedere, Mandizha instructed the driver to turn into Eastcourt so they could drop one of them.
The pair, which was seated at the back, pretended to be taking money from their pockets and suddenly grabbed the driver from behind.
They threatened him with knives and tied his legs and hands with seat belts and later dumped him along Lyton Road in Workington.
The gang was involved in an accident in Dema the following day.
They bolted out of the vehicle prompting members of the public to give a chase that led to Mandizha’s arrest while his accomplices fled.
The stolen vehicle is valued at US$6 100.
The same gang had also robbed Mr Last Kaubeni (56) of Seas Taxis of his vehicle using the same method the previous day.
Online Reporter