Double life sentences for murderous robbers

HIGH Court Judge, Justice Pisirayi Kwenda, has sentenced two murderers to double life imprisonment for their role in a brutal botched robbery in Kwekwe’s Mbizo suburb in May 2023.

The two convicted individuals were part of a five-member gang that fatally stabbed two residents in quick succession.

Edson Matarise (22), Edmore Mpande (28), and Innocent Maketo (27) appeared before Justice Kwenda, sitting at the Gokwe circuit, facing two murder charges each on Wednesday.

After a full trial, Justice Kwenda found Matarise and Maketo guilty as charged on both counts of murder, while Mpande was found not guilty and acquitted on both counts.

Matarise, Mpande, and Maketo were part of a five-member gang involved in the callous murders of a veteran Kwekwe educationist and former headmaster, Mr Lovemore Marume (64), whose body was found lying in a pool of blood with multiple stab wounds in Mbizo 3, and another woman, Ms Chipo Gobiye (38), whose body was also found lifeless a few metres away.

Handing down the judgement, Justice Kwenda said, “Accused one – count one – life imprisonment, count two – life imprisonment. Accused two – not guilty and acquitted on both counts. Accused three – count one – life imprisonment, count two – life imprisonment.”

Justice Kwenda described the murders as deliberate and premeditated, with aggravating factors.

He said that given their brutal nature, a life imprisonment sentence was fitting, as argued by the state, adding that if the death penalty were still in place, this case would likely have warranted it.

“This was a premeditated murder committed in aggravating circumstances. As the state has rightly pointed out, this was a gruesome murder, which befits the sentence of life imprisonment.

“Had the death penalty still been operational, this would be a case that attracts the death penalty. The likes of such accused persons should be put away for life to deter like-minded individuals,” said Justice Kwenda.

Prosecutor Ms Salome Mavunganidze told the court that Mr Marume resided at house number 363/12, Mbizo, Kwekwe.

“On 16 May 2023, at around 8:30 pm near Ruvimbo Primary School, the deceased was returning home from a spaza tuck shop in Mbizo Section 3, where he had gone to collect his public address system, which had been hired by the Seventh-day Adventist Church,” she said.

Ms Mavunganidze stated that as Mr Marume neared Ruvimbo Primary School, he was approached by the accused persons, who were with Innocent Maketo and Caswell Dzingirai, who remain at large.

She said the accused persons then ordered Mr Marume to surrender all his belongings. When he resisted and assaulted the third accused with his hands, causing him to fall, accused one became aggrieved and stabbed the deceased multiple times with a knife on the back and chest, causing him to collapse.

“The three accused persons, together with Innocent Maketo and Caswell Dzingirai, then searched the deceased and took a Tecno mobile phone, a black amplifier, a brown wallet, and US$50 in cash.

“Accused one then took the mobile phone, while the third accused took the remaining property, which they shared amongst themselves before fleeing,” she said.

Ms Mavunganidze further told the court that in count two, Ms Gobiye resided at house number 3112, Simbi Park, Redcliff.

She said that while the three accused persons were searching Mr Marume, Ms Gobiye and Ms Bhuka, who were on their way to Mbizo 4 Shopping Centre, Kwekwe, interrupted them.

“Upon seeing the deceased and Kimberly Bhuka, accused one and Caswell Dzingirai, who remains at large, confronted them and started chasing after them,” she said.

Matarise, the court heard, caught up with Ms Gobiye and stabbed her several times in the back, causing her to collapse.

“Caswell Dzingirai then chased after Kimberly Bhuka, but she managed to outpace him,” she said.

Mr Marume and Ms Gobiye’s bodies were discovered the following morning, and a report was made to the police.

“Investigations led to the arrest of the accused persons, while others remain on the run,” she said.