Published by the government of Zimbabwe
3 October 2008
Harare — TWO men who hijacked a Delta Beverages vehicle they used to rob a Murewa octogenarian of household property valued at $9 500 were each jailed for an effective 22 years.
Farai Madziro (28) and Andrew Chipanera (24), of Zengeza One in Chitungwiza, will complete their prison terms at the age of 50 and 46 years respectively.
Harare regional magistrate Mr William Bhila said although the two were not armed when they committed the offences, there were aggravating circumstances warranting such a deterrent sentence.
"Although the two did not use a firearm in both incidents, the manner in which the robberies were committed was so brutal, making the offence as serious as armed robbery.
"In the first incident, the complainant, who was not allowed by the company regulations to carry unauthorised passengers, played the Good Samaritan and went out of his way to assist the two who appeared to be so desperate for transport.
"Instead, the two gave him problems and later robbed him of the company truck and stripped him naked. They left him stranded as they drove off to Murewa where they harassed an 80-year-old woman in full view of her grandchildren.
"Robberies are now prevalent and some are even being committed in broad daylight and those convicted should receive appropriate sentences," said Mr Bhila.
In aggravation, prosecutor Mr Cuthbert Mukandire called for a deterrent custodial sentence, saying the pair's moral blameworthiness was very high in the circumstances.
Mr Mukandire said the men breached the trust of the driver who had offered them a lift and that they embarrassed the old woman in front of her grandchildren.
The first incident occurred on September 11 this year at Murewa turn-off along the Harare-Mutare Road, when Mr Stephen Mandikumba, a workshop manager at Delta in Harare, was travelling in a company Mazda B2500 truck.
He offered a lift to Madziro, Chipanera and Julius Mubaiwa, who is still at large, after they indicated that they were Rusape-bound.
Along the way, the two grabbed Mr Mandikumba by the neck and robbed him of the vehicle.Mr Mandikumba was stripped naked and dumped a few kilometres from Headlands.
On the same day, the gang drove to Somane Village in Murewa, where Madziro and Chipanera grew up, and stormed into the house of 80-year-old Mrs Rainah Somane.
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