Trio jailed for stealing $2 from cop

THREE men who attacked a Beitbridge police officer before robbing him of his $2 cash have been slapped with five-year jail terms each after they were convicted of robbery.

John Chingaira (23), Ignatius Makahamadze (25) and Panashe Mtunzi (20) denied the charge of robbery when they appeared before Beitbridge magistrate Godswill Mavenge on Thursday.

Two years of the sentence were suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour.

Prosecutor Munyonga Kuvarega told the court that the complainant in the matter was Prosper Zinawa (27) who is a police officer stationed at Beitbridge Urban Police Station.

"On July 4 this year Zinawa was on his way from OJS shops going home. He used a footpath. When he was about to reach Pagomba Café, the three accused who were in ambush emerged from the bush and confronted him. They flashed him with a torch before grabbing him," Kuvarega said.

The prosecutor further said the three stabbed Zinawa all over the body and robbed him of his $2 and a pair of shoes worth $20 before disappearing from the scene.

It is the State's case that on September 25 detectives received information that the three were responsible for Zinawa's attack, leading to their arrest.

During investigations the three led the police on indications and recovery of the two Okapi knives they used in attacking Zinawa.