SA based fugitive's reign of terror ends

A Notorious robber who terrorised Bulawayo residents through murder, robbery and rape, appeared in court facing 10 counts of robbery and three counts of rape.

Birthwell Sibanda, 22, of Old Pumula, who had been hiding in South Africa, was arrested by police soon after arrival in the city last Tuesday.

Sibanda who pleaded guilty to all 10 counts of robbery but not guilty to three counts of rape, was on Friday convicted on all the counts of robbery by regional magistrate Trynos Wutahwashe.

He will be sentenced today and is expected back in court sometime this week to answer to four counts of murder. Court officials could however not give details regarding the murder charges.

Sibanda went on a robbery spree targeting mostly motorists and he is alleged to have raped three of his victims, a charge he denies. He is also alleged to have killed four people during his orgy of heinous acts.

On March 20 last year, Sibanda pounced on Obert Mabaya who was in the company of his girlfriend.

The couple was in their Nissan Sunny car which was parked at a secluded spot in the Hyde Park area of Pumula. Sibanda pulled out a knife and threatened to kill them. He then took away a Nokia 5230 cellphone, $20, a black wallet belonging to Mabaya and $3 from his girlfriend,

Using the same method, Sibanda robbed Eliah Zvimba and took away a Compaq laptop, charger, satchel, I-pad, LG and Samsung cellphones as well as $35 at knife point.

On March 26, at the Seventh Day Adventist Church in New Lobengula, Sibanda robbed Zephaniah Mlawuzi of his Mazda Demio vehicle, two cellphones and $60 at knife point. He thereafter ordered Mlawuzi to remove his clothes and forced him to leave the scene of the crime naked.

On March 27, Sibanda continued with his robbing spree stealing from three different people. He took away five cellphones, a laptop, R600, $15 and car keys from Raymond Shonhiwa, Ngonidzashe Kangani and a woman he raped before robbing.

He allegedly raped the woman in a bushy area between Old Pumula and Robert Sinyoka area. On April 24, Sibanda met Movias Ngwenya who was driving a Nissan Caravan vehicle and produced a knife, took his motor vehicle, two Samsung cellphones, $22 and R30 in cash, his khaki shorts, a red pair of panties and blue shorts forcing him to go home naked.

Ngwenya made a report at Luveve Police Station and the vehicle was later recovered. On the same day Sibanda robbed Leviticus Jambawa of his Honda Ballade motor vehicle, a G-Tel cellphone, and $30 and took his clothes leaving him naked. The matter was reported at Njube Police Station.

On May 8, Sibanda met a female juvenile in a bushy area near Mpilo Central Hospital and raped her, the court heard.

After the spate of robberies, alleged murder and rape Sibanda escaped to South Africa.

In mitigation after being convicted of the 10 counts of robbery, Sibanda begged for the court's leniency claiming that he was under the influence of the devil when he committed the crimes.

"Your worship, I was under the influence of the devil, may the court be lenient when sentencing me, I've two minor children that I'm taking care of," said Sibanda.

Paid Zengeni is representing the state.