Robbers jailed 3 years each

Luthando Mapepa
Chipinge Correspondent
TWO of the four Chipinge notorious robbers who were arrested in connection with terrorising residents and stealing valuables worth more than $700 000 were each jailed three years.

Charles Madadira (35) of Gaza and Feliex Mtisi of medium density were convicted on their own guilty plea when they appeared before Chipinge magistrate, Mrs Elizabeth Hanzi this week.

Their accomplices, Thomas Maname Zindoga (38) of Zindoga Village, Zaka and Tinashe Simango of Gaza pleaded not guilty and were remanded in custody to January 13 for trial.

Prosecuting, Mr Gift Bikita, said on December 20, the four were arrested in connection with 18 counts of unlawful entry into premises (residential and business) which they committed around Chipinge District.

“The value of the stolen property which include groceries, clothes, laptops, hardware tools, television sets and cellphones amounted to $768 495. They were stolen from October to December in different locations.

“The accused persons used the same modus operandi and broke windowpanes and doors of the complaints to gain entry. They also entered into some of the complaints’ houses and shops through rooftops,” he said.

The four were arrested following a tip-off and property worth $400 000 was recovered from their homes and individuals who had bought it.

Some of the recovered property that include cellphones, blankets, clothes, television sets, spanners and kitchen utensils.