Online Reporter
Lovemore Kadzura
Post Reporter
A SOLDIER was jailed four years after robbing a Roman Catholic priest of his cellphone at knifepoint in Headlands.
The convict, Learnmore Gwenyaya (31), of One Commando Regiment Block 5 in Harare, was sentenced by Rusape provincial magistrate, Mr Tendai Mahwe on Monday after pleading guilty to robbery.
He was arrested within two hours of the raid on December 8, 2025, while two accomplices remain at large.
Mr Mahwe handed Gwenyaya a five-year sentence, suspending one year on condition of good behaviour.
He will serve an effective four years in prison.
Gwenyaya, who was a self-actor, pleaded guilty to robbery as defined in Section 126(1)(a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act (Chapter 9:23).
The court heard the priest sustained injuries during the attack, but the extent was not detailed.
No other property was reported stolen besides the cellphone. The two accomplices who escaped are still at large, and investigations are in progress.
The recovered cellphone’s value was not stated in court.
Prosecutor, Mrs Faith Mutukwa, said Gwenyaya, and his accomplices targeted Father Kanisious Mashati at his residence at Mt Carmel Primary School in Headlands.
The gang travelled from Harare to Headlands using public transport on December 8, after hatching a plan to steal from the priest.
“On December 7, 2025, at around 9pm, Father Mashati retired to bed after having locked the door to his bedroom and the main door. All windows were closed by a domestic worker, Ms Margret Mafeni,” said Mrs Mutukwa.
At around 1.30am, the three men, armed with an iron bar, shovel, and okapi knife, approached the priest’s house wearing balaclavas to cover their faces and conceal their identities.
They used duplicate keys to open the main door before breaking into Father Mashati’s bedroom.
“The accused persons assaulted him using an iron bar and a shovel as the complainant fought back,” said Mrs Mutukwa, adding that during the scuffle, Father Mashati threw a bottle of wine at the intruders, injuring Gwenyaya.
The priest only surrendered when Gwenyaya produced an okapi knife and threatened to stab him.
The robbers searched the room, and stole Father Mashati’s Itel A70 cellphone. Police officers on night patrol intercepted the group at Halfway House along the Harare-Mutare Road at around 3.30am.
Police officers approached the three, and two of his accomplices fled, while Gwenyaya was arrested,” said Mrs Mutukwa.
A search of Gwenyaya’s satchel recovered a live cartridge.
He had no firearm certificate, violating Section 4 of the Firearms Act (Chapter 10:09).
The cartridge was sent to ZRP Ballistics for examination, which confirmed it was live ammunition.
For illegal possession of ammunition, Mr Mahwe fined Gwenyaya US$300 or four months in jail in default.
The court ordered the ammunition to be forfeited to the State.
