Online Reporter
Midlands Bureau
A Gweru man has been jailed for 35 years after he was convicted of four counts of armed robberies in and around the city.
Stanley Makurumidze of Mkoba 6, who committed the offences together with three other accomplices, pounced on four victims in Mkoba and Riverside, getting away with goods and cash worth US$12 720. Makurumidze pleaded guilty to four counts at full trial.
He will serve an effective jail term of 30 years after Gweru regional Magistrate Christopher Maturure suspended five years on condition of good behaviour. Prosecuting, Miss Eggrina Matutu, told the court that Makurumidze targeted the victims at night, carrying out four robberies between April and July.
On April 18, 2025 around 3am, Makurumidze together with Wellington Chamunorwa Chiendambuya, who is still at large, hatched a plan to rob Alfons Mapfumo of Mkoba, before making off with $800.
The following month on May 24, Makurumidze together with Chiendambuya and Maxwell Machina, still at large, pounced on Shingai Shumba armed with a pistol and iron bar. They took away US$400 cash, laptop, five blankets, a pair of shoes, Toyota Axio vehicle and groceries, all valued at US$9 550.
The Toyota Axio vehicle was later recovered dumped at Clonsila area.
Two moths later, the accused with his accomplices, working in common purpose, threatened Kudzaishe Mutungamiri of Riverside with a pistol, two iron bars, spanner and handcuffs, took US$320 cash and two iPhone 12 cellphones.
They handcuffed the complainant before disappearing from the scene.
At another house in Riverside, he together with his other accomplices, who are still at large, got away with goods worth US$1 300.
