Robber gets 4 years, accomplice gets unpaid work

stole US$250.
His accomplice will, however, perform 520 hours of community service.

Harare magistrate Mr Lazarus Murendo sentenced Brian Chiwobvu (26) to five years in jail but suspended one year for five on condition that he does not commit a similar crime.
However, his accomplice Norman Mambo (18) was saved from a prison term because of his youthful age.

Mr Murendo sentenced Mambo to three years behind bars before suspending one year.
Six months of the jail term was suspended on condition that Mambo restitutes the complainant his money on or before November 30.

The remaining one and half years were set aside on condition that he performs 520 hours of community service at the Harare Magistrate Courts commencing yesterday.
Prosecutor Ms Patience Chimusaru told the court that on October 28 at the corner of Abercon and Cameroon Street the complainant Ben Mafemba was walking when the two accosted him.

Together with two other accomplices they cornered Mafemba.
Chiwobvu moved forward and grabbed him by his shoulders while Mambo searched Mafemba’s pockets.

They took US$250 from Mafemba.

Mambo and Chiwobvu took US$144 while their two accomplices who are still at large shared US$106 and disappeared.
Members of the public assisted Mafemba and the two were arrested. Cases of day light robbery are on the increase in the city.