Notorious highway armed robbers get 70 years in jail

NOTORIOUS highway armed robbers who were arrested last week have been convicted and slapped with sentences ranging from 18 to 34 years after pleading guilty to numerous counts of robbery.

The vehicles they were using - a Toyota Corolla and a Toyota Altezza - were also forfeited to the State in accordance with Section 62 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act.

Crynos Chisuwi (25), Norest Mashiri (20), Stanley Maendesa (26) and Njabulo Gumbo (26) pleaded guilty to several counts of robbery when they appeared before Chinhoyi regional magistrate Mr Never Katiyo whoconvicted them.

In convicting them magistrate Mr Katiyo said their actions were deplorable and only fit for the jungle as they would attack their victims with weapons such as knobkerries, knives, screwdrivers and claw hammers among others leading to trauma and injuries.

"Cases of violence on the highways are on the increase in Mashonaland West province and lengthy imprisonment will send the right signals to would-be offenders. Zimbabwe is a peaceful country and we need to rid it of such people.

You were trying to be heroes in the jungle of lawlessness," he said. Chisuwi who had nine counts of robbery and was the owner of the two vehicles that were used in the robberies was sentenced to 70 years imprisonment with 14 suspended on condition that he does not commit an offence involving violence in the next five years.

A further 24 years of the sentence would run concurrently meaning he would serve an effective 34 years in prison. Maendesa and Gumbo would serve the same number of years.
Mashiri would serve 18 years as he was said to be young according to the law but the magistrate said he started at the deeper end of crime.

However, more counts are expected to go before the courts as more people are still coming to identify their valuables.
Mr Katiyo asked how far they intended to go with their acts of terror had they not been stopped by the police, Gumbo replied that he was hoping to get a better paying job before he stops.

In mitigation, they said they had young families that needed to be looked after with Chisuwi offering to have one of his vehicles spared so that he would have something to use when he is out or it would be sold with proceeds going towards the upkeep of his two children.

In aggravation, prosecutor Mr Lucky Dube said the crimes were premeditated and stripped their victims of dignity as they would leave them naked before applying for the forfeiture of the vehicles to the State.

The magistrate commended the police for their swift reaction before leaving the court in stitches when he said the gang looked calm in court when they had caused terror to their victims.