Online Reporter
Zvikomborero Parafini
EIGHTEEN men, convicted of raiding businessman Wicknell Chivayo’s in-laws at their Alpha and Omega Farm in Marondera, have been slapped with prison terms totalling a combined ONE THOUSAND YEARS.
A substantial portion of the sentences will run concurrently.
Harare regional magistrate, Masaiona Shotgame, sentenced the gang following their conviction after a full trial.
They had all pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Kelvin Murehwa, Peter Maramba Vhiya, Takudzwa Maisvoreva, Garikayi Shangwa, Temptations Gerald Dinhidza, Arnold Tafirei, Tawanda Mushayatu, Mike Mhaka, Obvious Mutaka, Kennedy Kuzvinzwa, Adonia Dhliwayo, Charles Chokera, Arnold M Mutinhidza, Shingirai Bhaureni, Stephen M Chakanetsa, Dave Saurombe, Taurai Mushawemhuka and Felix Marongedze were convicted in the wake of the daring armed robbery.
Murehwa, Vhiya, Maisvoreva, Shangwa, Dinhidza, Tafirei, Mushayatu, Mhaka and Bhaureni were sentenced to an effective 76 years imprisonment each.
Mutaka, Kuzvinzwa, Dhliwayo, Chokera, Mutinhidza, Chakanetsa, Saurombe, Mushawemhuka and Marongedze will serve 55 years imprisonment each.
The charges arose from an armed raid at Alpha and Omega Farm in Marondera on March 18 last year.
The court heard that the gang descended on the farm at around 1am armed with three rifles, two pistols, two bolt cutters, machetes and iron bars.
Upon arrival, they confronted security guard Petros Mabunhu, who was employed by DM Security, and assaulted him with iron bars while demanding to know the whereabouts of other guards on duty.
They also confronted another security guard, Medic Zhakata, whom they struck several times on the head with iron bars.
The robbers then force-marched a guard to Gerald Muteke’s bedroom where they demanded money.
Muteke surrendered US$18,000 in cash, a pistol loaded with eight rounds of ammunition and a Samsung S23 cellphone.
The gang demanded to be shown the safe and, on their way, entered Vimbai Muteke’s bedroom where they demanded cash and the safe keys.
She surrendered US$1,100 in cash, a Chub safe key and a Samsung Galaxy A35 cellphone.
The robbers then took her to the main bedroom where she opened the safe and surrendered a further US$55,000.
In another count, the gang targeted Cossam Siminya, ransacking a room and stealing a 49-inch Samsung television set, an Itel power bank, an Itel S23 cellphone and US$700 cash.
They proceeded to Siminya’s bedroom where they stole US$10,000 from a wardrobe, an iPhone 14, a Tecno Spark 8 cellphone and various groceries.
The gang also took a small container holding US$500 realised from tuckshop sales before proceeding to the lounge where they stole a 55-inch Samsung television.
They later went to the tuckshop where they confronted Bosco Chidukudze, severely assaulted him and stole his cellphone.
Lancelot Mutsokoti appeared for the State.
Mathew Masinge