adminMarvelous Moyo Gwanda Correspondent
A GOLD panner has been sentenced to an effective 20 years in jail for robbery and rape. Themba Mpofu, 29, an ex-convict from Habane village in Esigodini, had pleaded not guilty to two counts of robbery and one of rape but was convicted by Gwanda Regional magistrate Joseph Mabeza due to overwhelming evidence.
Mpofu, who said he was originally from Nkayi, was recently released from jail after serving a two-year sentence for a different robbery case.
In 2013, he was sentenced to 36 months imprisonment of which 12 months were suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour.
This time around, Mpofu robbed two women and raped the other.
When magistrate Mabeza asked him why he had committed other crimes about five months after his release from jail, Mpofu said: “I don’t know, maybe it’s just a curse.”
He was sentenced to 10 years for each count of robbery giving a total of 20 years in prison.
Magistrate Mabeza sentenced Mpofu to another effective 10 years in prison for rape.
Mpofu will, however, serve an effective 20 years in prison after magistrate Mabeza combined the two counts of robbery for purposes of sentencing.
In passing sentence, magistrate Mabeza said he had considered that Mpofu was a repeat offender recently released from jail.
He said Mpofu had shown that he had now graduated in the criminal world and had no respect for the law.
Mabeza said Mpofu had no defence to offer as the State proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.
“All crimes were committed in aggravation. You were armed with a knife and an axe. The complainants were traumatised by your offences,” he said.
The State proved that Mpofu, a father of four, armed himself with an axe and a knife and robbed two Filabusi women. He proceeded to rape one of the victims at knife point.
Prosecuting, Johannes Tlou told the court that on February 4 this year, Mpofu robbed Berita Lunga, 63, of Filabusi and another woman who cannot be named whom he also raped at knifepoint. He committed the offences on separate occasions but during the same day in Filabusi.
At around 1.15PM, Mpofu met Lunga and asked her for directions to Esidulini and Dakwezi area and she directed him.
He was carrying an axe and started following her threatening to strike. Lunga screamed and Mpofu placed the axe on her neck and took her handbag containing a Nokia cellphone, $3,50, wrapping cloth, a school report and fled.
At round 4PM on the same day, Mpofu met another woman and greeted her while still armed with the two weapons.
He produced a kitchen knife from his trousers which he said he was selling but the woman indicated that she had no money but Mpofu demanded some money from her threatening her with a knife and an axe.
The woman gave him $5 and he also took away her handbag with shoes and 2kg of sugar. Mpofu then force-marched the woman to a stream and ordered her to remove her panties and she complied.
He then raped her while still holding his knife and axe with one hand.
After raping her, he proceeded with his journey leaving the woman in the bushy area. The complainant informed her husband about the traumatic experience and a manhunt for Mpofu was launched.
With the help of other villagers, they arrested him and handed him over to the police.
Online Reporter