Online Reporter
Dalyn Chigwizura
THREE men behind a spate of violent armed robberies in Bulawayo have been sentenced to a combined 72 years in prison. Fortune Nyathi (40), Big Boy Winston (32), and Aleck Ndlovu (27) — all from Cowdray Park suburb — were each convicted on three counts of armed robbery by Western Commonage regional magistrate, Mrs Sibongile Marondedze.
The trio operated as part of a gang alongside Sipho Ncube and Dumisani Ndlovu, who were both fatally shot during a police operation to apprehend them.
In delivering her sentence on Tuesday, Mrs Marondedze described the gang as a danger to society and said justice demanded a lengthy custodial term.
“We need to protect the city of Bulawayo from such criminals. A lengthy prison term is warranted to reflect the seriousness of these offences,” she said.
Each of the three men was sentenced to 12 years per count, with the second and third counts to run concurrently, resulting in an effective sentence of 24 years each.
Prosecutor Mr Milton Moyo told the court that the gang committed the robberies in April, using a firearm and an okapi knife to intimidate their victims.
The first incident occurred on 12 April at around 7PM in Cowdray Park, where the gang targeted a local tuckshop operated by Respect Nkomo.
“They rang the bell and when Nkomo opened the door, one of the accused pointed a firearm at him, forced him inside, and ordered him to shut the tuckshop window,” said Mr Moyo.
The robbers ordered Nkomo to lie on the floor and stormed into the kitchen, where they confronted his wife and demanded cash.
The gang fled with US$70, R1 000, a mobile phone, and a satchel containing perfumes.
An hour later, the gang struck again — this time at Suta Suta Service Station in the Kelvin North industrial area. Masquerading as customers, they approached petrol attendant Brighton Ndlovu. Nyathi handed him a 5-litre container and R100, requesting diesel.
“After the attendant filled the container, Nyathi fired a gunshot into the air, ordering Ndlovu and his colleagues to lie down,” Mr Moyo told the court.
Winston brandished an Okapi knife and attempted to stab a security guard, who managed to escape. They then attacked Ndlovu, leaving him unconscious.
The robbers stole US$593 from Ndlovu and turned on another employee, Tsitsi Dzambara, from whom they snatched a mobile phone before fleeing.
Police launched an intensive investigation using cellphone tracking technology, which led to Winston’s arrest. He later implicated his co-accused during interrogation.
One of the stolen phones was recovered from Winston’s girlfriend, Tribeth Sibanda.
During the arrest operation, suspects Dumisani and Ncube attempted to flee, prompting a shootout with detectives. Both were shot and later pronounced dead upon arrival at United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH).
Recovered items included a Villon V20 mobile phone and a small satchel linked to the first robbery.
