Online Reporter
Dalyn Chigwizura
A 20-YEAR-OLD man has been sentenced to an effective 10 years in prison for attacking a Bulawayo resident with a machete and robbing him of a cellphone, shoes, a cap and cash near Ngozi Mine dumping site.
Sambulo Bhebhe, of no fixed abode, was convicted of armed robbery by Western Commonage regional magistrate Mrs Sibongile Marondedze.
He was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment but will serve an effective 10 years after two years of the sentence were suspended on condition that he does not within the next five years commit a similar offence.
His co-accused, Siyabonga Banda (20), walked free after the court found no evidence linking him to the crime.
The prosecutor Mr Milton Moyo told the court that the robbery occurred on May 3 at around 11am. The complainant, Sydney Mpofu (33), was walking towards the Ngozi Mine dumpsite when he was confronted by three men, including Bhebhe, who was armed with a machete.
“Mpofu attempted to flee but Bhebhe blocked his path and struck him once on the head with the machete and he fell to the ground,” said Mr Moyo. “
The court heard that Bhebhe then stole the complainant’s cellphone and a wallet containing US$150 and R1 400.
Before fleeing the scene, the accused also forced Mpofu to hand over his pair of shoes and a white cap.
Bhebhe was arrested on July 21 after Mpofu spotted him drinking beer at a sports bar along Lobengula Street in the city centre. He immediately reported the matter at Mzilikazi Police Station leading to Bhebhe’s arrest.
In an unrelated matter, a Bulawayo man appeared in court facing allegations of defrauding a home seeker of R160 000 in a botched residential stand deal.
Labour Sibanda (54) of Bradfield suburb, pleaded not guilty to a charge of fraud when he appeared before Western Commonage Magistrate Mr Archie Wochiwunga. He was remanded in custody to August 8 for trial.
According to the State, represented by prosecutor Ms Audrey Kufandikanwe, the alleged offence occurred between December 2021 and November 2023.
The complainant, Mr Tatenda Ruwaza allegedly paid Sibanda R100 000 as part of an agreement to purchase a residential stand in Cowdray Park suburb in Bulawayo. Sibanda allegedly took Ruwaza to the site and assured him it was available for sale.
Further, Sibanda allegedly convinced Ruwaza to pay an additional R60 000, promising to construct a four-roomed house on the stand so that Ruwaza could move in once construction was completed.
However, the court heard that Sibanda failed to honour the agreement and kept giving the complainant false assurances. After months of unmet promises, Ruwaza reported the matter to the police leading to Sibanda’s arrest.
The money was not recovered.
