daniel chigunwe
Mashonaland Central Bureau
A 32-year-old Rushinga man who terrorised his community with a spate of armed robberies was sentenced to an effective 29-year jail term at Bindura magistrate court.
Chikomborero Gomo of Nyakudanga village under Chief Rusambo in Rushinga targeted people he knew and was found guilty of four counts of armed robbery by Bindura magistrate Mr Amos Mbobo.
Mr Mbobo said Gomo carefully planned and premeditated the crimes.
Mr Mbobo sentenced Gomo to 34 years in prison before suspending five years on condition that he does not commit a similar offence when he eventually comes out of jail.
He was ordered to pay restitution of US$1 672 and about $18 000 on or before June 30 next year.
Prosecuting Mr Garudzo Ziyadhuma told the court that the first to be attacked was Richard Mushayi (47) of 10, Rushinga Township. In March 2021, Gomo teamed up with Praise Gudyanga, Rainos Takawira and another man who is on the run and looked for people with large sums of money to rob.
On March 5, 2021 Gomo and his accomplices went to Mushayi’s house where they forcibly opened a window. Gudyanga, Takawira and the unknown accomplice entered the house leaving Gomo outside on guard since he feared being identified.
Mushayi was awoken by the noise and discovered the three robbers inside his bedroom. They pulled out a firearm, threatened to kill him and demanded money. They took a plastic bag from the wardrobe containing US$300, Z$700 and four cellphones.
On March 6, the same year at around 1 am Gomo went to rob Charles Mukarati (53) of Farm 35 Nyajenje in Chesa Mt Darwin on the Rushinga border. After breaking down the door, Gomo pulled out a knife and threatened to kill Mr Mukarati. His gang tied Mr Mukarati’s legs and hands with electricity cables and demanded cash.
Mr Mukarati told them that the money was in the wardrobe and the gang took US$150, $1 000 and two cell phones. Mr Mukarati managed to free himself and alerted his neighbour before reporting the matter to the police.
On March 22, 2021 Gomo pounced on his former employer’s son Farai Kanodzirasa (21). He climbed over the precast wall and forced open the door. Once again Gomo stayed outside while his gang tied Mr Kanodzirasa’s hands and legs using his shoe laces.
At gunpoint, they demanded cash but were told there was none. They searched the whole house and took US$9 and two cell phones.
The final victim was Irene Jim (53) who lost US$1 920, an X-Trail Nissan vehicle registration number AEV 3827, a laptop, and two cell phones on April 2, 2022.
The vehicle was later dumped near a mine in Bindura. Gomo was arrested October 13, last year and his defence was that none of those robbed positively identified him.
But the magistrate said all the complainants were truthful and honest in their testimony and that Gomo’s crimes had been proved beyond reasonable doubt.
Online Reporter