Online Reporter
Trish Mukwazo, [email protected]
TWO men who were recently convicted of robbing a Bulawayo woman of R137 000 as she walked home in Luveve suburb with her five-year-old child, will be sentenced today.
Silence Kwangwa (30) of Trenance suburb and Douglas Rizani (32) of Glenview suburb in Harare were convicted of robbery last week by Bulawayo regional magistrate, Mrs Dambudzo Malunga.
The pair, along with accomplices who are still at large, robbed Ms Noleen Mathuthu as she walked home soon after disembarking from a commuter omnibus near Chigumira Business Centre in Luveve suburb.
In convicting the duo, Mrs Malunga said there was overwhelming evidence that linked the two to the robbery. Kwangwa and Rizani have pending cases in the courts.
The prosecutor, Mr Owen Mugari, said the two committed the offence on 15 May 2023.
Ms Mathuthu had closed her shop in Makokoba suburb and boarded a minibus at Engen Garage along Luveve Road.
“The unsuspecting complainant disembarked from the minibus at Chigumira shops and started walking along a footpath on her way home unaware that the accused persons were following her,” he said.
The court heard that one of the men grabbed Ms Mathuthu from behind and tripped her.
“One of the accused persons snatched the complainant’s bag, which contained R137 000 and ran back to join his accomplices in their Honda Fit getaway car, which was parked a few metres away,” said Mr Mugari.
Following investigations, police arrested the two accused. Kwangwa led police to the recovery of his Honda Fit, which was used as the getaway car. The total value stolen is R137 000 and nothing was recovered.
In aggravation, Mr Mugari submitted that the robbery is a serious offence which was now prevalent in Bulawayo.
He further submitted that the stolen money was a substantial amount which was not recovered.
He further told the court that the robbery took place in front of the victim’s five-year-old child.
“The offenders traumatised the victim and her children and during trial did not show any remorse,” Mr Mugari said.
