Midnight heist at funeral parlour ends in 9-year jail term

Residents in Bulawayo were left stunned after a daring armed robbery at a local funeral parlour ended with a lengthy prison sentence for one of the suspects.

Clifford Desmond Nare (34) of Cowdray Park was sentenced to nine years in prison by the Tredgold Regional Magistrates Court following his conviction for armed robbery.

The court heard that on 1 February 2025 at around 11:30 pm, Nare and his accomplices targeted Kings and Queens Funeral Services in Kelvin North. The gang was reportedly armed with pistols and a silver sword.

During the robbery, the suspects assaulted a security guard, striking him above the right eye with a firearm. Two security guards were forced to the back of the premises and tied up using their shoelaces.

While Nare allegedly kept watch outside, his accomplices gained entry through a window and stole US$3 608, R1 130, a Huawei Y62 cellphone valued at US$110 and an Exide battery worth US$80.

Investigations led to arrests, although some suspects remain unaccounted for. Two alleged accomplices, Sipho Ncube and Dumisani Ndlovu, are reported to have since died, while another suspect, Cordias Nkomo, is still at large.

In sentencing Nare, the court emphasised the seriousness of armed robbery, particularly where weapons and violence are involved.

Commenting on the matter, the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ) reiterated that armed robbery attracts stiff penalties and warned that the courts will continue to impose deterrent sentences on offenders.

Authorities have urged members of the public to respect the law and resolve grievances through lawful means, warning that violent crime carries severe consequences.