Online Reporter
Solomon Bhumu
Mutare Bureau
TWO armed robbers were last week sentenced to four years in prison after they robbed a school and stole equipment worth US$7,250.
Hamid Dhana Manyumwa (48) and Owen Nyamunokora (43), were convicted after a full trial.
The two were found guilty of a robbery committed at Mundenda Secondary School in Manica Bridge on October 27, last year.
Magistrate Annie Ndiraya presided over the case and handed down the sentence. Tafadzwa Zulu led the State’s case.
Zulu said the complainant, Brandwell Chikora, 63, who was employed as a security guard, was stationed at the school during the incident.
She said Manyumwa and Nyamunokora, along with four accomplices who are still at large, planned and executed the theft.
They arrived at the scene in a white Nissan Atlas truck.
Armed with an iron bar, logs, a bolt cutter, and pliers, they cut the security fence to gain entry to the school premises.
Once inside, they assaulted Chikora, tied him with a rope, and forced him to guide them to the computer laboratory.
There, they broke in and stole 29 HP Core i3 laptops.
They also entered the administration block but left empty-handed.
Chikora sustained a head injury during the assault and was later treated at Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital.
He reported the incident to the police, initiating an investigation that led to the recovery of four stolen laptops.
These laptops were traced to individuals who had obtained them through the two convicts. On December 1, last year, the suspects led the police to the crime scene during an indications process.
The recovered laptops, valued at US$1,000, were part of the total stolen property worth US$7,250.
Deputy Headmaster, Mr Itai Saurombe, positively identified the recovered laptops.
The convicted men revealed they were unable to recover the remaining stolen property.
derick.khumalo