Online Reporter
Ronald Mpofu
A SOLDIER and his accomplice, both based in Plumtree, have each been sentenced to Seven years in prison after going on one-night crime spree, robbing two people and breaking into two premises.
The pair was ruthless and during one of the robberies threatened to chop up a woman with a machete, while threatening to take away her child. They told the woman they would commit unspeakable horrors on the tot.
Alpha Omega Moyo (23) and Bonwell Sibanda (33), the soldier, committed the offences while on bail over similar cases.
They had pleaded not guilty to two counts of unlawful entry and two counts of robbery before Plumtree Magistrate Busani Sibanda on 19 August 2026.
However, overwhelming evidence torpedoed their defence.
The prosecutor Ruth Ncube told the court that on 29 June 2026 at around 2AM at Ingwizi Business Centre, Mphoengs in Matabeleland South, the two accused burst into Nomsa Madida’s shop and entered her bedroom, where she was sleeping with her children.
Eyes flashing with evil intent, they demanded cash and threatened to kill her with a machete. They further threatened to take her young child away if she did not give them cash. The utterly terrified woman was forced to go to a corner where she kept her money and airtime.
With shaking hands, she handed over cash, airtime and seven mobile phones. They demanded the shop keys, which she gave to them, and they left.
On the same day at around 2:45AM at the same business centre, the two forced open a window at Chill Bar and cut through the burglar bars. However, they were intercepted by security guards. As they fled, one of the guards tried to stop them and they hit him with a pickaxe. The guard has since been admitted to Brunapeg Hospital.
Still at Ingwizi Business Centre at around 4:30AM the duo entered Saint Cocktail Bar by cutting the burglar bars and forcing open a window. They robbed Ntokozo Ncube of cash, airtime and a camera, all valued at R8,100 and US$150.
Magistrate Sibanda combined the two counts of robbery into one for sentencing, meting out an imprisonment term of five years to each of the criminals.
He suspended one year from each sentence, for five years on condition that the offenders do not commit a similar offence for which they are convicted and sentenced to imprisonment without the option of a fine during that period. Of the remaining 4 years, 18 months were suspended on condition of restitution. This 18-month period was further broken down as follows: 12 months were suspended on condition that each offender restitutes the victims. Restitution is to be paid through the Clerk of Court at Plumtree Magistrates’ Court on or before 30 September 2026.
The duo was also sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment on the counts of unlawful entry and nothing was suspended. In total, they will serve 54 months’ imprisonment.
