A CHITUNGWIZA man has been sentenced to 60 years in prison for his role in the theft of lobola money from socialite Wicknell Chivayo’s in-laws.
The suspect, Bigboy Nampungo, was convicted on six counts of armed robbery by Harare regional magistrate Jesse Kufa after pleading guilty.
The court ruled that each victim’s ordeal at the hands of the suspects constituted a separate charge, leading to a 10-year sentence for each count.
He will, however, serve 30 years in prison as the first and second, third and fourth well as the fifth and sixth counts will run concurrently, respectively.
The robbery took place in mid-March at Alpha Omega Farm in Marondera.
Nampungo and his alleged accomplices, Garikai Shangwa, Temptation Dinhidza, Arnold Tafirei, Tawanda Mushayatu, Mike Mhaka, Maramba Vhiya and Takudzwa Maisvore, terrorised six members of Chivayo’s in-laws' family.
While Nampungo has been convicted and sentenced, his co-accused have been remanded in custody until April 10, when their
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The complainants are Zex Mutasha Rusike, Petros Mabhunu, Medic Zhakata, Tinotenda Shonhiwa, Gerald Muteke and Vimbai Muteke.
State prosecutor Lancelot Mutsokoti told the court that on March 18 this year, the suspects and their accomplices, who are still at large, planned to rob Chivhayo's in-laws.
They were armed with three rifles, two pistols, two bolt cutters, machetes and iron bars.
They assaulted security guards before force-marching one of them to the main house.
They allegedly used a bolt cutter to cut the key on the security screen so that they could gain entry to the house.
They threatened Gerald and he surrendered US$18 000, a Sarsilmaz pistol loaded with eight rounds and two phones.
The accused persons then demanded to be shown the safe.
On their way to the safe, they passed through Vimbai’s bedroom, where they demanded cash and safe keys and she surrendered US$1 100, a Chubb safe key and a Samsung Galaxy A35 mobile phone.
They took her to the main bedroom, where she opened the safe and surrendered US$55 000 in cash.
According to the State, the stolen goods and property were valued at US$74 000.
