Online Reporter
Kimberley Chitambara, [email protected]
TWO Bulawayo men linked to an armed robbery syndicate that terrorised residents by attacking and robbing them at gunpoint were yesterday sentenced to a combined 48 years in prison.
Clifford Nare (34) of Cowdray Park and Thabo Dube (24) of Pelandaba West were convicted on seven counts of armed robbery by Bulawayo regional magistrate, Mr Archie Wochiunga.
The pair and their accomplices, who are still at large, used firearms, machetes and swords in a string of robberies that left residents and businesses in fear.
For counts one, two and four, each man was sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment, with two years suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour. Of the remaining 10 years, six months were suspended upon payment of
US$385 restitution to Tenala Nyoni, a complainant, another six months upon payment of US$575 to Ethen Moramasaka, and a further six months upon payment of US$545 to Bless Jabulani Nyoni.
This left them with an effective sentence of eight and a half years for those counts.
For counts five, six and seven, they were each sentenced to another 12 years in prison, with six months suspended upon payment of US$1 900 and R500 to
Choppies Supermarket, and three months suspended upon payment of US$37 restitution to Sindiso Savoyi, leaving them to serve 11 years and three months, effective for those counts.
In total, the duo will serve 19 years and nine months each, amounting to nearly 40 years combined behind bars.
Prosecuting, Ms Hazel Ncube said the robberies occurred between November and December last year, targeting service stations and supermarkets across Bulawayo.
“On November 8 last year, the accused persons, armed with firearms and swords, stormed Nova Petroleum Service Station in Cowdray Park at around 10PM and robbed a fuel attendant of US$550 and a cellphone worth US$200 before fleeing the scene,” said Ms Ncube.
A few hours later, the gang returned to the same service station with two other accomplices and robbed another attendant of US$870 and a cellphone worth US$270.
Later that month, the accused again targeted the same garage, robbing a third attendant of US$95.
The robbers also struck Choppies Supermarket, where they held employees at gunpoint before escaping with an undisclosed amount of cash and several cellphones.
Following police investigations, Nare and Dube were arrested, although none of the stolen items were recovered.
