Online Reporter
Mthokozisi Ncube
A Bulawayo man who turned taxi rides into a nightmare by posing as a passenger before pulling out a pistol and robbing drivers has finally reached the end of the road after being slapped with an effective six-year jail term.
Nkosana Makheto (35) of Bellevue was convicted by the Bulawayo Magistrates’ Court on eight counts of robbery following a crime spree that left taxi drivers and commuters counting their losses.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ), Makheto unleashed his reign of terror between 18 April and 9 May this year along Balfour, Birkenhead and Luveve roads.
His trick was simple but frightening. He would hail a taxi like an ordinary passenger before suddenly producing a Blow F92 9mm blank pistol and threatening his victims.
With fear taking over, drivers and passengers were forced to surrender cash, mobile phones and other valuables.
During the robbery spree, Makheto allegedly made off with US$460, R20 and several mobile devices after intimidating victims with the weapon.
On 9 May, one determined taxi driver refused to let the matter slide. After allegedly being robbed, the driver tracked Makheto to a bushy area along Dundee Road.
The driver then rallied friends and together they cornered the suspect before handing him over to police at ZRP Donnington.
The dramatic citizen’s arrest led to the recovery of the blank pistol and US$40 cash.
Further police investigations linked Makheto to the other robbery cases that had been reported across the city.
