Online Reporter
Yeukai Karengezeka-Court Correspondent
TWO men who were apprehended after a dramatic police chase have each been sentenced to 10 years in prison for armed robbery and unlawful possession of a firearm.
Emmanuel Sithole (50) and Vengesai Gibson (32) were convicted after a full trial presided over by Harare regional magistrate Mr Donald Ndirowei.
The incident involved the robbery of Ms Sizini Eunice Rapoyo of Chitungwiza, who they forcibly removed from her vehicle.
Prosecutor, Mr Tendai Tapi, proved that on December 4, 2024, at about 8am, Ms Rapoyo was reversing her Toyota Wish from her home, preparing to leave for work.
Sithole and Gibson approached her vehicle, opened the door, and forcefully grabbed her right arm, ordering her to stop.
The duo then forced her out of the car and sped away in the vehicle. As they fled, the complainant’s son, Tinashe John Rapoyo, attempted to intervene by throwing a stone at the robbers.
However, one of the accused fired a shot into the air to deter him. Inside the stolen vehicle was a Samsung cellphone with a SIM card.
Ms Rapoyo immediately reported the incident to ZRP St. Mary’s Police Station. The following day, the robbers drove the stolen vehicle to Mubaira growth point, where they attempted to rob a shop.
Police officers from ZRP Mubaira received a tip off about the planned robbery and intercepted the suspects.
When police signalled them to stop, the accused sped off, prompting officers to fire warning shots.
The suspects then abandoned the vehicle and attempted to flee on foot while brandishing firearms.
One of the suspects, identified as Adonis Mucheriwa, was shot in the left leg during the confrontation.
He was disarmed of a 7.65mm Star pistol loaded with two live rounds and subsequently arrested.
He was later transported to Sally Mugabe Hospital in Harare, where he was admitted under police guard.
A search of the stolen vehicle uncovered two balaclavas, a 14-pound hammer, and four pairs of gloves, all packed in a black satchel.
The recovered firearms were booked into the CID Vehicle Theft Squad’s station exhibit book and sent to CID Ballistics for examination.
