By Rangarirai Shanyurai
Two of the four armed robbers that had caused sleepless nights to Ngundu residents were finally sentenced to 11 and 18 years jail terms respectively after being convicted on two counts of robbery each by Masvingo Regional Magistrate Bishard Chineka on September 14, 2024.
James Masunda (28) from Mateza Village, Chief Nyajena was slapped with 11years imprisonment after pleading guilty in court while his accomplice Prosper Cephas Mushandu from Village 19 Mukosi Resettlement, got 18 years after he pleaded not guilty.
The other two accomplices, Eria Ziwurawa and Kudzai Farara are still at large.
It was the state’s case as presented by prosecutor Nickson Chamisa that on May 13, 2024, around 1900 hours, the four proceeded to Varaidzo Zimhunga’s homestead, with the common purpose of committing robbery. They used Ziwurawa’s motor vehicle, a Toyota Fun Cargo.
Upon arrival at Zimhunga’s house, Masunda who was armed with a rifle entered the house while Mushandu remained outside. Masunda found Zimhunga seated in the house counting her money and pointed the rifle threatening to shoot her if she screamed or failed to comply with his demands.
Masunda demanded cash and took a cash box containing R53 000 and a Samsung Galaxy A23 cell phone. Mushandu who was armed with a machete entered the house and instructed Zimhunga to surrender her Honda fit vehicle ignition keys.
Zimhunga asked her son Wisdom Munete to fetch the keys in the kitchen unit but he failed to locate them. Mushandu pressed machete against Wisdom’s back and forced him to get into the bedroom where he took the car keys and later handed them to Masunda.
Farara armed with a pistol, went into another bedroom where he threatened Tadiwanashe Munete and demanded a laptop. Instead, he took a cell phone Hisense Infinite E30 and an itel P40plus and locked Tadiwanashe in the room before they fled the scene using Ziwurawa’s motor vehicle.
On the second count, Masunda, Mushandu and Farara went to Petunia Matewe’s shop at Mukosi Resettlement Area at around 2230 hours where Munyaradzi Mudende (23) was employed as a security guard.
Masunda was armed with a long riffle and an iron bar which he used to break the door while Mushandu remained outside as a sentry armed with a knobkerrie. Ziwurawa remained in the getaway car. Farara was armed with a bolt cutter and they were all dressed in black outfits and balaclavas.
Masunda and Farara entered the shop where they ordered the security guard to lie on the floor and remain silent. They stole 2 x 200 AH Sosola batteries, 210 litres deep freezer, two Dixon speakers with amplifier, royal speaker, Afritech inverter, phonic amplifier, Huawei Y7, Huawei Y5, Samsung A32 and groceries.
Farara tied up the security guard using electric cables before they drove away.
Another shop owner, Anold Matavo, who was sleeping in his shop heard the noise and went to the village to alert Matewe. The two untied Madende and reported the incident to the police.
Police received information that Masunda’s wife, Letmore Vimisai was selling a solar battery believed to be part of stolen property and carried out investigations leading to the arrest of Masunda on May 29, 2024.
He admitted to have committed the offence swith Mushandu and Farara. Police recovered a Samsung Galaxy A23, Hisense Infinite E30, Tippman rifle, a long machete, two dragon blades, a knobkerrie, a blue bolt cutter, an iron bar, a BSA meteor air gun and further leading to the arrest of Mushandu.
This led to the recovery of the other stolen items including an Afritech inverter, Phonic amplifier, Dickson speaker, and speaker stand. Vimisai’s cooperation led to the recovery of stolen goods that are 25 pampers, a Dickson speaker, 210-liter Defy deep freezer fridge, amplifier, and 22 pampers from Ziwurawa’s homestead.
The total value of stolen property is US$1 821:50 and total value recovered was US$1 211.
