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Ivan Zhakata
Herald Correspondent
One of the four men who were involved in a daring Blue Circle bus robbery that occurred on July 18, 2024, Ashton Siziva (26),
has been sentenced to 84 years in prison.
Siziva is jointly charged with Talent Mlaudzi (20), Saul Dadirai (23), and Phineas Shumba (25).
The quartet appeared before the Chiredzi Magistrates’ Court facing charges of 37 counts of armed robbery.
Siziva pleaded guilty to 37 counts of robbery and was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment each for counts one to six.
He was sentenced to a further 12 years each for counts seven to 37. The 12 years for count seven to 37 will run concurrently. He
will serve 84 years effectively.
Mlaudzi, Dadirai, and Shumba will return to court on September 11, 2024, for trial continuation.
Allegations are that on July 17, 2024, the four men acting in connivance with Elphase Mugudubudze, who is still at large
travelled from Beitbridge to Harare.
They allegedly left Mugudubudze at Vilivili bus stop along the way and while in Harare the quartet boarded a Blue Circle bus at
Mbudzi bus terminus that was going to Beitbridge.
On July 18, 2024, at around 4 am Shumba allegedly approached the conductor and advised him that he wanted to disembark at
Vilivili bus stop.
When the bus stopped, the court heard, Mugudubudze got into the bus armed with a C75 9mm pistol which he used to threaten
the driver while the four men produced okapi knives and threatened the passengers.
They ordered the driver to drive the bus to a secluded place where they switched off the engine and lights.
The quartet then ordered the passengers to surrender their belongings before disappearing from the scene.
The matter was reported to the police and investigations led to the arrest of the quartet.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter