Online ReporterLangelihle S Nyathi, [email protected]
The Karoi Magistrates’ Court sentenced Philimon Sithole (25), Norman Timu (29), and Stephen Ndaradzi (24) to 12 years in prison after they were found guilty of armed robbery and theft.
It is reported that on November 10, 2024, at around 1 AM, a shop owner at Mabhero Shop in Karoi was awakened by a loud noise as 3 masked individuals forcibly entered his shop at Kingsgrove Business Centre.
One of the convicted, who was armed with an iron bar, assaulted the complainant and demanded money, while another fired a gunshot.
Worried for his safety and life, the shop owner handed over US$800 and his car keys. The trio proceeded to load the complainant’s Nissan NV200 with groceries, including sugar, flour, macaroni, cooking oil, among other items, along with his cell phone, before escaping the scene.
The complainant immediately reported the robbery to the police, and a spent cartridge was later recovered from the scene.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ), on November 14, 2024, Chinhoyi police detectives arrested Timu and Ndaradzi, who were found drinking at a bottle store in Lucky 7 Shops.
The convicted individuals had been linked to another robbery who are said to have been using a Honda Fit as their escape vehicle.
Timu and Ndaradzi later implicated the Sithole and two others, who are still at large, leading to Sithole’s arrest in Chinhoyi CBD where the complainant’s stolen cell phone was recovered at the time of his arrest.
Further investigations led to the recovery of stolen goods from the homes of the Timu and Ndaradzi, including sugar, flour, macaroni, washing powder, cooking oil, peanut butter, and sweets.
Timu and Ndaradzi led the police to the abandoned the stolen vehicle, where some of the stolen items including electrical shockers and balaclavas were recovered
the total value of stolen goods amounted at US$8,600, and the value of recovered goods is US$7,115.
