Crime Reporter
THREE notorious Midlands machete-wielding gangsters that have been terrorising residents in and around Gokwe, have received long jail terms for murder.
Two were sentenced to 30 years each, while one was jailed for 36 years.
Tavonga Masenga, Raphael Putse and Kudakwashe Mapolisa, who were convicted by the High Court in Gokwe on murder charges, were part of a gang known for terrorising Gokwe and Empress Mine residents.
On July 15, 2022, Mapolisa was driving a white Isuzu truck together with Putse and Masenga, and other gang members, who are still at large, when they identified a man as one of the people who had assaulted their colleague the previous day.
Upon seeing the man, they all jumped out of their vehicle and charged towards him, but he started running away. They chased and grabbed him, before taking turns to assault him using stones, sticks and machetes. They killed him before they fled from the scene.
A police report was made leading to the arrest of the three.
Masenga and Putse were sentenced to 30 years each in prison, while Mapolisa was sentenced to 36 years.



