News / Local
23 years for double shooting gunman
15 Mar 2016 at 02:00hrs | Views
A DANGEROUS thug who shot two people on Christmas Eve while fleeing an angry mob on a busy Bulawayo street is starting a 23-year jail stretch today.
Thokozani Zulu, 39, together with two accomplices who are still at large, robbed a shopkeeper of more than $300 at gunpoint along Lobengula Street.
As they made their getaway, a court heard yesterday, the shop owner ran out shouting "Thief!"- prompting passersby to chase after Zulu. His two accomplices escaped with the money.
Zulu shot a woman on the leg after she could not get out of his way fast enough. He tried to jump into a commuter omnibus but the conductor slammed the door shut. He shot the conductor on the hand.
Bulawayo magistrate Mark Dzira said Zulu would spend three years in jail for robbery.
"You're sentenced to 10 years in jail for each of the two counts of attempted murder. In total you'll serve 23 effective years," Dzira told Zulu.
Zulu pleaded guilty to robbery, attempted murder and illegal possession of a firearm last week.
He told magistrate Dzira that he wanted proceedings to be in isiZulu as he had stayed in South Africa for years.
Prosecuting, Tinashe Dzipe said Zulu and two other men, who were not named in court, approached Blessing Mudenge armed with a gun and demanded cash at around midday on December 24 last year.
They stole $272 and R650 and got away after tying Mudenge with shoe laces.
"The trio left the building but Mudenge managed to free himself and started shouting to attract the attention of the public," said Dzipe.
"As Zulu continued running from the angry crowd he shot at Tonsia Ngwenya, who sustained an injury on her thigh. He later shot at Emmanuel Chirodzero and was finally pinned down."
Dzipe said police recovered a Noringo Star Pistol and live rounds after rescuing Zulu from the angry mob which had started assaulting him.
Mudenge and Ngwenya were ferried to hospital for medical treatment. Zulu also collapsed and was rushed to hospital where he recovered under police guard.
Thokozani Zulu, 39, together with two accomplices who are still at large, robbed a shopkeeper of more than $300 at gunpoint along Lobengula Street.
As they made their getaway, a court heard yesterday, the shop owner ran out shouting "Thief!"- prompting passersby to chase after Zulu. His two accomplices escaped with the money.
Zulu shot a woman on the leg after she could not get out of his way fast enough. He tried to jump into a commuter omnibus but the conductor slammed the door shut. He shot the conductor on the hand.
Bulawayo magistrate Mark Dzira said Zulu would spend three years in jail for robbery.
"You're sentenced to 10 years in jail for each of the two counts of attempted murder. In total you'll serve 23 effective years," Dzira told Zulu.
Zulu pleaded guilty to robbery, attempted murder and illegal possession of a firearm last week.
Prosecuting, Tinashe Dzipe said Zulu and two other men, who were not named in court, approached Blessing Mudenge armed with a gun and demanded cash at around midday on December 24 last year.
They stole $272 and R650 and got away after tying Mudenge with shoe laces.
"The trio left the building but Mudenge managed to free himself and started shouting to attract the attention of the public," said Dzipe.
"As Zulu continued running from the angry crowd he shot at Tonsia Ngwenya, who sustained an injury on her thigh. He later shot at Emmanuel Chirodzero and was finally pinned down."
Dzipe said police recovered a Noringo Star Pistol and live rounds after rescuing Zulu from the angry mob which had started assaulting him.
Mudenge and Ngwenya were ferried to hospital for medical treatment. Zulu also collapsed and was rushed to hospital where he recovered under police guard.
Source - chronicle
