3 men jailed for robbing Freda Mine worker in Gwanda

Three men who attacked a worker at Freda Mine in Gwanda and stole property worth US$450 have been sentenced to a combined 15 years in prison.

Conilias Ndlovu (36), Junior Sibanda (18), and Renika Takaruva (28) were convicted of robbery by the Gwanda Magistrates' Court, with each receiving five years' imprisonment.

According to the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ), the trio struck on August 10, 2025, alongside three other accomplices who remain at large.
"The offenders assaulted the victim with a shovel to the head and threatened him with an axe and a sambok before forcibly taking a 100-watt solar panel, a small radio, a shovel, and a cellphone," the NPAZ statement read.

Police investigations led to the arrest of Ndlovu, Sibanda, and Takaruva, with some of the stolen property recovered. Each sentence included 11 months suspended on condition of good behaviour, and one month suspended on condition that US$50 restitution be paid.

The NPAZ urged communities to work closely with law enforcement to curb violent crime, noting, "Your timely intervention can make a significant difference in maintaining public safety." Authorities continue to search for the three accomplices and warned that violent crimes would be met with decisive justice.