Ten years for spate of armed robberies

Zvikomborero Parafini

A notorious Harare robber who terrorised the northern suburbs in a spate of robberies was sentenced to 10 years in prison yesterday.

Justin Nyamakanga Dodzo is set to spend the next decade in prison after being convicted on four counts of unlawful entry.

Among the complainants was Minister of Women’s Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Sithembiso Nyoni, who lost property worth US$10 200.

Prosecutor Ngoni Kaseke proved that on July 21, 2021, Minister Nyoni left her house in the care of her caretaker, Clinton Nkala.

Nkala retired to bed, leaving Steady Chikwaya from the police protection unit on guard duty.

The next day, Nkala was woken up by Chikwaya who asked why he had left the door open.

Nkala told the guard that he locked all doors before going to bed.

When he went into the house, he noticed that the television set was missing. He informed Minster Nyoni and she instructed her son to file a police report.

They later discovered that Dodzo had stolen more property in the house amounting to US$10 200.

Dodzo was arrested after a tip off to detectives from CID Highlands and he made voluntary indications where he had sold the property.

Another complainant was Florence Marechera from Vainona.

The court heard that on August 8, 2021, Marechera went to bed and at around 1am the next day, she was woken up by her two sons informing her that her car boot was open.

She discovered that her spare wheel and battery had been stolen.

She also discovered that a bed, 50-inch television set, laptop, 30kg beef and a projector had been stolen.

Dodzo confessed to the offence and led police to the discovery of the stolen items.

The third complainant was Prisca Chimbare of Chisipite, and the court heard that Dodzo and his accomplices broke into her home on August 16, 2021.

She heard a knock on her bedroom door and when she woke up to check, she saw Dodzo and her accomplices holding knives, machetes and iron rods.

They assaulted her demanding for money, but she refused and they took her cellphones and left.

Dzodzo and his gang also broke into Joseph Mudehanha’s Chisipite house armed with machetes and knives.

They ordered him to lie down and demanded money. They ransacked his house and stole a bicycle and three cellphones.