Shumirai Zhou
GWERU – Andrew Goboza (35) of House Number 2587 Ascot, Gweru, was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment by Gweru Magistrate Morgan Nemadire after he was convicted of using a fake pistol to rob a lodge receptionist of two cellphones.
The court heard that on May 24, 2017 the accused went to Mint Leaf Lodge, Gweru, and approached the complainant, Innocent Moyo (38), posing as a guest who wanted to book a room for the night.
The accused then suddenly produced a metal-like toy gun from his jacket and pointed it at the complainant threatening to shoot him.
Shaken by what he thought was a real gun, Moyo gave in and the robber took away a Samsung Galaxy and a Nokia cellphone that were at the front desk.
As the robber attempted to flee, he was apprehended by a passersby and this led to his arrest and both the stolen cellphones, valued to US$100, were recovered.
Goboza, who was convicted on his own guilt plea, said he wanted to make some money to pay for his rentals when the court asked him why he had committed the crime.
“My landlord was threatening to evict me from the room and my family had no food. That is why I committed the crime; I wanted money. I picked a butt of a gun at a scrap yard where I used to pick metal objects for sale.
I later picked other metal objects and found wood and decided to produce a toy gun which I kept in the bushes,” Goboza said.
Lloyd Mavhiza appeared for the State.local
