Two robbers sentenced to 14 years each for armed r...

Two robbers sentenced to 14 years each for armed robbery

Zim Now Writer

Two Mutare armed robbers and carjackers, were recently sentenced to 14 years in prison each for stealing two vehicles and property worth US$7 850.

The two Honda Fit vehicles, valued at US$4 000 and US$3 000 respectively, were recovered; however, the property worth US$850 was not.

Brighton Kasamba and Kelvin Maunde, appeared before regional Mutare magistrate Phathekhile Msipa, who charged them with two counts of robbery and sentenced each of them to seven years for each count.

Six months were set aside on condition that the two accused restitute the complainant in count two; an additional year was set aside on condition of good behaviour.

This means that Kasamba and Maunde will serve effective jail terms of 12-and-a-half years.

Lust Goredema prosecuted and said on May 15, 2021, Kasamba approached Tendai Chitanda at Chikanga Rank in Mutare and faked that he wanted to hire a taxi to Fairbridge Park.

“Kasamba sat on the front passenger’s seat, and he requested for Chitanda to pass through Mudzviti Bus Terminus to pick Maunde, whom he purported to be his brother who had just arrived from Harare.

“Kasamba directed Chitanda to Shelly Road in Fairbridge Park and upon arrival, he ordered the complainant to stop the vehicle near the gate of a house.

“Maunde then produced a toy pistol and pointed it on Chitanda’s neck. Kasamba produced a silver knife from a satchel and pointed it again at the complainant.

“They told him that they wanted his vehicle and that if he resisted, they would kill him. They grabbed the complainant by the neck and hit him with the butt of the toy pistol on his head.

“They tied his hands with shoelaces and pulled him to the back seat,” said Goredema.

Kasamba jumped onto the driver’s seat and drove the vehicle towards the Mutare-Harare Highway.

He stopped and forced the complainant out of the vehicle then drove off behind Wise Owl Motel.

The two raced off to Guruve in Mashonaland Central Province where they sold the vehicle to Kasamba’s cousin, Gias Malta of Mukusa Village under Chief Chipuriro.

They shared the earnings.

However, investigations led to the recovery of the car, worth US$3 000, at the Chinhoyi Tollgate on January 5, 2022.

Malta told the police that he had bought the car from his cousin and that led to the duo’s arrest.

In the second count, Kasamba, Maunde and Enock Mutswiri planned to steal Michael Chiwara’s vehicle.

Kasamba pretended to be looking for a taxi at Chikanga Rank and were charged US$3 for the ride to Yeovil.

Goredema said: “Kasamba directed Chiwara to Yeovil and when they reached Mhaka Business Centre, he ordered the complainant to turn into Pike Place Road. He ordered Chiwara to park the vehicle at the gate of a house along Dorset Close where he had left Maunde and Mutswiri.

“Chiwara complied and waited to be given his money by Kasamba. However, Kasamba disembarked from the vehicle and went to the driver’s door and opened it. He grabbed the complainant by the neck and produced a knife, threatening to kill him if he resisted his orders.

“Maunde and Mutswiri appeared from nowhere with logs. They jumped into the vehicle and forced Chiwara out. Kasamba’s girlfriend, who was also in the car, ran away,” said Goredema.

Chiwara ran away, calling for help.

They drove off in Chiwara’s vehicle which had a smartphone, a small bag containing US$550 and a brown wallet with a driver’s licence and a national identity card.

“The total value that was stolen was US$4 850 and the vehicle, worth US$4 000, was recovered,” said Goredema.