Online Reporter
Patrick Chitumba, [email protected]
A Gweru man, who was part of a three-member gang that terrorised residents and robbed them of valuables and cash totalling over US$12 000 has been sentenced to 35 years in prison. Stanley Makurumidze, of Mkoba 6 suburb, was convicted of armed robbery by Gweru regional magistrate Mr Christopher Maturure, following a full trial.
Makurumidze will serve an effective 30 years, with five years suspended on condition of good behaviour. In passing sentence, Mr Maturure emphasised the need for a severe penalty to deter similar crimes.
“It is the duty of the courts to protect members of the public from individuals such as the accused, who go about terrorising innocent citizens. The accused is sentenced to 35 years in prison, of which five years are suspended for five years,” he said.
Prosecutor Ms Eggrina Matutu told the court that Makurumidze and his accomplices, Wellington Chamunorwa Chiendambuya and Maxwell Machina — who remain at large — committed a series of armed robberies between April and July last year. The gang operated under the cover of darkness, using pistols, iron bars, spanners, and handcuffs to intimidate and subdue their victims.
On April 18 last year, at around 3AM, Makurumidze and Chiendambuya robbed Mr Alfons Mapfumo of US$800. On May 24, they targeted Mr Shingai Shumba, stealing US$400, a laptop, five blankets, a pair of shoes, a Toyota Axio and groceries, all valued at US$9 550. The stolen vehicle was later found abandoned near Clonsilla in Gweru.
In July, the pair struck again, robbing Mr Kudzaishe Mtungamiri after threatening him with a pistol and iron bars. They escaped with US$320 and two iPhone 12s. The court also heard that the gang stole goods worth US$1 300 from a house in Riverside.
