Fortune Makoni [email protected]
AN 18-year-old man has been sentenced to an effective 15 months’ imprisonment for robbing two victims of cellphones, a power bank and cash in Inyathi.
Nkosiphile Makwelo was convicted on his own plea of guilty to two counts of robbery by Inyathi resident magistrate Mr Challenge Mahembe.
He was sentenced to 24 months in prison, with four months suspended for five years on condition that he does not commit a similar offence during that period.
Of the remaining 20 months, two months were suspended on condition that he restitutes the first victim US$80, or its equivalent in Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG).
A further three months were suspended on condition that he restitutes the second victim US$98, or its ZiG equivalent, through the Clerk of Court at Inyathi Magistrates’ Court on or before November 30, 2026.
In passing sentence, Mr Mahembe said robbery was a serious offence warranting imprisonment, adding that the aggravating circumstances outweighed the mitigating factors.
“Imprisonment is necessary to meet the justice of the case, as robbery infringes on victims’ personal security and property rights,” he said.
Prosecuting, Mr Farirai Chakamanga told the court that on October 8, at around 3AM, Makwelo and his accomplices, who are still at large, went to Badala Village 1 in Inyathi, where they entered the victims’ home and used violence to steal their property.
The court heard that Makwelo and his accomplices assaulted one of the victims before stealing two cellphones valued at US$80.
In a second incident, they assaulted another complainant and stole a power bank and US$68 in cash. The stolen property was valued at US$98.
A police report was made, leading to Makwelo’s arrest.
Meanwhile, two men from Inyathi have been ordered to perform 280 hours of community service each for prospecting for alluvial ore without a licence along the Mbembesi River in the Famona area.
Marko Gumbo and Pardon Maposa were convicted on their own pleas of guilty by Inyathi magistrate Ms Meggie Ruzive for prospecting for alluvial ore without a licence, in contravention of Section 3(1), as read with Section 3(3), of Statutory Instrument 188 of 2024 under the Environmental Management Act.
Prosecuting, Ms Janet Dube told the court that on October 24, at around 5.30 PM, police officer Wellington Marufu and other officers were patrolling along the Mbembesi River in the Famona area when they spotted the two men conducting alluvial mining activities.
The officers arrested the pair after they failed to produce licences authorising them to prospect for alluvial deposits.on www.chronicle.co.zwTwo shovels and a pick were recovered from the men.
