adminMaqawe Nkomo (27), of Annacleta Nkomo’s homestead under Chief Hikwa’s area, was convicted on his own plea of guilt to contravening Section 126 (1)(a) of the Criminal Law (codification and reform) Act chapter 9:23 “robbery”, by Plumtree magistrate, Mr Gibson Mandaza.
Eight months of his sentence were suspended for five years on condition that he does not within that period commit an offence of a similar nature.
The complainant is Pilate Nleya (56), of the same area, who is employed as Director of Buildings and Estates under the Ministry of Defence.
On 12 January at Dombodema business centre, at about 8pm, Nkomo snatched a CZ pistol Serial Number 12097101 from the complainant, who was trying to contain violence at the business centre.
Nkomo was in the company of his friends who were drunk when they became violent and started threatening to beat up members of the public.
Members of the public then approached the complainant, who was nearby and requested him to quell the commotion that was being caused by Nkomo and his friends.
The complainant tried to reason with Nkomo and his colleagues, but they became more violent prompting him to draw his service pistol in an attempt to calm the commotion.
Nkomo then violently snatched the pistol from the complainant and ran away with it.
Members of the public then alerted Margaret Ndebele, who is a member of the Neighbourhood Watch Committee, who confronted Nkomo and retrieved the firearm.
Nkomo was arrested and taken to Plumtree Police Station.
Mr Stanley Chinyanganya appeared for the State.
Online Reporter