The Sunday News
Walter Mswazie Masvingo Correspondent
TWO armed robbers who have been targeting travellers along the highway in Masvingo offering them transport before robbing them of cash at gun point have been arrested and sentenced to seven effective seven years in jail. Tafadzwa Munetsi ( 27) of Mbizo, Kwekwe and Stanford Chibanda (43) of Ascot, Gweru were arrested in Zaka by police detectives following a tip-off. They would masquerade as genuine motorists, and offer unsuspecting travellers transport in their silver grey Toyota Corolla before robbing them of cash at gun point along Mhandamambwe-Chivi Road.
Appearing before Chivi resident magistrate Mr Bishard Chineka on Thursday, Munetsi and Chibanda, who were jointly charged, pleaded guilty to two counts of armed robbery. Mr Chineka, convicted the pair due to overwhelming evidence and sentenced them to eight years each. He suspended one year for each for five years on condition of good behaviour.
For the State, Mr Hakufiwi Hakufiwi told the court that sometime last month Munetsi and Chibanda were travelling along Mhandamambwe–Chivi Highway when they offered a lift to two people before robbing them of their belongings.
“On 25 April at around 5am, the two who were travelling in a sliver grey Toyota Corolla offered Mr Timothy Chimire a lift from Mhanda bus stop. The duo then drove for about five kilometers towards Chivi turn-off before stopping at Tsuro bus stop,” said Mr Hakufiwi.
Mr Hakufiwi said after stopping the car, Munetsi and Chibanda switched off the lights and grabbed Mr Chimire by the neck after which they searched him, removed all his clothes before pushing him outside the vehicle and sped off.
The court heard that the pair proceeded to pick another passenger, Mr Morgan Matumba at Chivi Growth Point and after travelling for about three kilometres, they stopped the car and one of them produced a pistol which he pointed at Mr Matumba.
The pair then searched him, took off his clothes before taking away cash amounting to $450, R9 000, a Samsung cellphone valued at $300 and all his clothes. A report was made to the police leading to the pair’s arrest in Zaka by detectives from Mashava.
