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NewsDay

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Robbers jailed 24 years

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Two armed robbers who went on a terror spree, violently attacking motorists at gunpoint were Friday sent to jail for an effective 24 years each. The pair, Tonderai Arufandika (24) and Phainos Mungate (38), both from Harare’s Budiriro suburb, were convicted and sentenced on two counts of armed robbery by regional magistrate William Bhila. “Accused […]

Two armed robbers who went on a terror spree, violently attacking motorists at gunpoint were Friday sent to jail for an effective 24 years each.

The pair, Tonderai Arufandika (24) and Phainos Mungate (38), both from Harare’s Budiriro suburb, were convicted and sentenced on two counts of armed robbery by regional magistrate William Bhila.

“Accused persons are daring criminals. They cannot repent even if a term of imprisonment is suspended from their jail terms,” the magistrate said before sentencing each accused to 12 years on each count.

Prosecutor Norman Tsarwe presented that on March 17 last year, Arufandika and Mungate teamed up and proceeded to Shamva Road where they pretended to be travellers hiking lifts at Chabwino Farm.

The first complainant in the matter, Charles Nemhara, who was driving his Nissan Navara vehicle, pulled over and offered them transport to Harare.

After driving for about 500 metres, the robbers pulled out a gun and pointed it at Nemhara whom they ordered to stop and surrender his car.

But Nemhara resisted, inviting the ire of Arufandika and Mungate, who then assaulted him before pulling him out of the car. The pair then robbed him of $500 cash and his car. Nemhara reported the matter to police and the vehicle was later recovered dumped in Marondera.

Two days later, Arufandika and Mungate pounced again, this time on Richard Gutsa, who was driving his Isuzu truck to Harare from Chegutu.

The two were in the company of Tarasana Chikoto, who is now late.

They were offered a lift in Chegutu and upon arrival at Harare Showgrounds, they asked Gutsa to stop, but suddenly produced a gun and pointed it at him. They severely assaulted him with the butt of the pistol before robbing him of his car and $150 cash.

Their luck ran out when Chikoto was arrested while trying to sell the stolen vehicle and upon being interrogated by the police he implicated his accomplices, leading to their arrest.