Shumirai Zhou
GWERU – Tafadzwa Mugarisanwa (26) of House number 1398/17 Mbizo, Kwekwe was recently slapped with a 23-year-jail term over 43 counts of armed robbery of which nine counts were withdrawn after witnesses failed to provide satisfactory testimonies, and the robber was acquitted on six others.
Mugarisanwa pleaded not guilty to all charges but the court found him guilty and Gweru magistrate Solomon Jenya sentenced him to 23 years in jail.
Appearing for the State, Robert Ndlala told the court that the accused was linked to a group of armed robbers that are still at large.
The gang terrorised business people, stealing electrical gadgets in Zhombe, Kwekwe and Silobela between the months of February and March 2015.
Ndlala said the modus operandi of the gang involved producing a pistol to force shopkeepers to hand over their electrical gadget such as radios, laptops and DVD players as well as groceries.
It was heard that the accused was caught after stealing submersible pumps at a local school where he was performing a community service for another case not counted on the 43 counts.
The police then tracked him and arrested him, leading to the revelation of the 43 counts.
The value of stolen property was not known by the time of his appearance in court.local
