Carjacker sentenced to 18 years

Trish Mukwazo, [email protected]

A NOTORIOUS 38-year-old man from Cowdray Park suburb in Bulawayo who hijacked taxi cabs and took them to his rural home in Mangwe District simulating a successful life to other villagers has been sentenced to 18 years’ imprisonment.

The man, Alex Cabangani Moyo, who was already serving a 20-year jail term, got the additional lengthy sentence from Bulawayo magistrate Mrs Dambudzo Malunga on Wednesday last week.

However, four years were suspended on condition he doesn’t commit a similar crime in five years, leaving him to serve an effective 13 years in prison for car-jacking.

Mrs Malunga said Moyo deserved a lengthy sentence as he is not fit to be in society after traumatising people with his violent behaviour.

She emphasised that the justice system would not be lenient on him as he had gone on a robbery spree depriving his victims of their belongings, given that he already had a previous conviction.

“The offender was now on a rampage of specialising in getting away with victims’ cars. The courts will not lose sight that he pleaded guilty. He will accordingly serve his time in prison without the option of a fine,” said Mrs Malunga.

Prosecuting, Mr Owen Mugari said Moyo committed the offences between 2021 and 2022.

He said Moyo would falsely hire taxis on the pretext that he wanted to be ferried to various destinations only to hijack and rob the drivers. In one scenario, Moyo hired a taxi pretending he wanted to be ferried to his rural home in Nyamandlovu.

“They both agreed on a fare of US$40 and Moyo instantly paid US$20, which was used to fuel the car and they agreed that the balance was to be paid upon arrival at his destination,” he said.

Mr Mugari said along the way Moyo directed the victim to turn into a dust road, claiming it was a shortcut to his home. He said after driving for a distance of about 100 metres, Moyo requested the victim to stop as he wanted to relieve himself.

“When the victim stopped the car, Moyo produced a pistol and pointed it at the victim’s forehead ordering him not to make any movements. Moyo then demanded cash and other valuables from the victim, while assaulting him with fists. 

“Moyo then pulled the victim out of the car and force-marched him for a distance of 30 metres into a bushy area where he gagged him with contraband-type cellotape. He also bound his legs and hands before tying him to a tree with electric cables and cellotape and left him there,” said Mr Mugari.

He said the total value of the car, cash and belongings stolen was US$3 800.

Mr Mugari said he continued his hijacking spree and stole a combined US$12 490 from three victims in separate incidents in 2022.

The court heard that on July 7 this year, police detectives received a tip-off that Moyo was responsible for several hijacking incidents after he was spotted driving the vehicles in his rural home in Mangwe District.

Mr Mugari said on August 8 police detectives went to his residence, where he was arrested and a vehicle and other valuables were recovered.