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Walter Mswazie Masvingo Correspondent
TWO of the four robbers who wore army camouflage and police uniforms to terrorise business people and white farmers, stealing about $70,000 at gun point, have been jailed for a combined 104 years.
Metron Chongani Makamba, 30, of Bangala Dam in Triangle and Energy Jonasi, 23, of Taruvinga Village under Chief Bota, Zaka, were jointly charged with Knowledge Jonasi and their ring leader, Shadreck Makamba, for their reign of terror in Masvingo province. The latter has so far eluded the police.
Makamba and Energy pleaded guilty to 16 counts of armed robbery and one of attempted murder. Knowledge was remanded in custody to tomorrow for trial after he pleaded not guilty to all counts.
The robbers shot and wounded one of their victims, leaving him badly injured. In one raid, they force marched more than 30 farm workers into a room and assaulted them with sjamboks. The gang then ransacked the farmhouse and went away with $5,000 and guns after presenting themselves as police officers checking for firearm licences.
Masvingo regional magistrate Collet Ncube said while the accused were first offenders, the court would not lose sight of the fact that they committed serious crimes which instilled fear in the community.
Ncube also considered that the two did not waste the court’s time and resources when they pleaded guilty to all counts.
“While it’s admissible that you’re first offenders, the court shouldn’t lose sight of the fact that you caused a lot of panic within the country. The robberies were committed under aggravating circumstances and armed robbery cases are very serious offences the world over. It’s rare for cases of this nature not to attract custodial sentences,” said Ncube.
He said the court considered the age differences between Jonasi and Makamba as well as the role they each played to come up with appropriate sentences.
Ncube sentenced Jonasi and Makamba, who were represented by Florence Baloyi of Chuma Gurajena and Partners, to effective terms of 51 years and 53 years in prison.
He suspended only two years from each sentence.
Ncube slapped Jonasi with an 18-year jail term for six counts of armed robbery and conditionally suspended two years. He meted out a 12-year sentence to Makamba for the same number of counts for a crime committed on May 16.
For offences committed on June 25, Ncube handed Jonasi 19 years while his accomplice received 18, of which two years were conditionally suspended.
For the remaining counts, Jonasi received a 21-year sentence and Makamba got 16.
Prosecuting, Sophia Busvumani said between May and August this year, Energy and Knowledge Jonasi and Metron and Shadreck Makamba would masquerade as police officers and pounce on unsuspecting business people and farmers, getting away with cash and firearms.
Busvumani said on May 16, the accused went to Makuvise homestead in Chivi armed with rifles and clad in police uniforms and army camouflage, where they took $58,000 at gun point.
“On June 25, the Jonasi brothers working in connivance with the Makamba brothers went to Westenzelhof Farm belonging to Jan Kotze, 53. Upon their arrival they knocked at the gate and masqueraded as police officers before asking for a firearm licence,” said Busvumani.
She said the robbers ransacked Kotze’s bedroom and took away $4,030 and R10,000.
They also took a revolver calibre 4 with six live rounds, 20 revolver rounds and 10 x 9 mm rounds.
Busvumani said the robbers also went to Berejena Police camp where they robbed an on duty officer of his uniform.
She said on the third occasion, the gang went to a school, Rivertone Academy, about 35km along Masvingo–Mutare Road where they stole about $5,000 and a firearm.
In the fourth incident, the robbers went to Margret Hellen Mitchel family plot in Bushmead, Masvingo, where they got away with fire arms and property whose value was not given using the same modus operandi.
The court heard all hell broke loose when police officer cornered the gangsters at a hideout in Zaka in August. Busvumani said detectives recovered police and army uniforms which the gang had stashed in a trunk and hidden along a strembank.
“The Jonasi brothers were positively identified by one of their victims from Zaka,” she said.
Bongani Ndlovu