adminsentenced to effective 20 years in prison for robbery.
Terrence Mutema (41) was convicted on his own plea of guilty to four counts of robbery when he appeared before regional magistrate Mr Clever Tsikwa.
He was slapped with 32 years on all the four counts, but 12 years were wholly suspended for five years.
Mutema pleaded with the court for lenience saying his late accomplice prevailed upon him to commit robbery on taxi drivers in and around the city.
However, in passing sentence Mr Tsikwa noted the rise in the cases of taxi robbery in the city.
“The accused has committed a serious offence that trumatises taxi drivers, taxis are for the convenience of the public and if taxi drivers are exposed they will do their job in fear and prejudice genuine customers,” he said.
Prosecutor Mr Nathaniel Chigoro told the court that on November 2 at around 11:40pm Mutema and an accomplice Jack Phiri, who is now late, approached a taxi driver Emma-nuel Mhipingo at the corner of Chinhoyi Street and Samora Machel Avenue. Mhipingo was aboard a Toyota Spacio registration number ABQ 0530 silver in colour.
The two hired the taxi on the pretext that they wanted to go to Dzivaresekwa. When in Dzivaresekwa, the pair seemed not sure of the exact house they were going to.
Mutema, who was seated behind the driver’s seat, suddenly grabbed the taxi driver by the neck, pulling him to the back. Mutema and Phiri blindfolded the taxi driver and tied his hands and legs.
They stole two cellphones and US$80 before tying the driver to a NetOne booster mast and drove off with the vehicle.
Online Reporter
- Herald
- July 31, 2026
- 24 views
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