A 34-year-old Bulawayo man, Nicholas Moyo, has been sentenced to an effective eight years in prison by the Gwanda Regional Magistrates’ Court for his role in a violent armed robbery that occurred at St Joseph Business Centre in Kezi, Matabeleland South.
The court heard that on February 12, 2022, at around 3am, Moyo and unidentified accomplices broke into the bedroom of a 43-year-old shop owner located behind the business premises.
The gang, armed with machetes, iron bars and axes, threatened the victim and demanded cash and valuables.
Fearing for his life, the victim surrendered R6 000 in cash, a Toyota Hilux vehicle, Samsung cellphones, a tablet, an OpenView decoder, shoes and other personal items.
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The robbers fled the scene with the loot but later abandoned both the stolen Toyota Hilux and their getaway car, a Honda Fit, after learning that police were in pursuit.
Investigations led police to the abandoned Honda Fit, where officers recovered Moyo’s driver’s licence and personal documents, linking him to the robbery.
The total value of the stolen property amounted to US$16 390, of which items worth US$10 390 were recovered.
In addition to the prison term, the court ordered the forfeiture of the Honda Fit used in the commission of the crime to the State.
Moyo’s accomplices remain at large.
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