×
NewsDay

AMH is an independent media house free from political ties or outside influence. We have four newspapers: The Zimbabwe Independent, a business weekly published every Friday, The Standard, a weekly published every Sunday, and Southern and NewsDay, our daily newspapers. Each has an online edition.

Gang gets 20 years for raiding Econet base stations

News
Five armed robbers were yesterday jailed to a total of 20-years each after pleading guilty to two counts of robbery, stealing fuel and batteries from two Econet base stations generators in Norton last month. The five men who were jointly charged on two court records include Garikai Chikaka (28), Charles Innocent Manyawa (29), Paul Gwenzi […]

Five armed robbers were yesterday jailed to a total of 20-years each after pleading guilty to two counts of robbery, stealing fuel and batteries from two Econet base stations generators in Norton last month.

The five men who were jointly charged on two court records include Garikai Chikaka (28), Charles Innocent Manyawa (29), Paul Gwenzi (20), Ronald Mukwamira (33) and Brian Manyawa (24). They will, however, serve effective jail terms of 16 years each after regional magistrate Simon Rogers Kachambwa suspended four years on condition they reimbursed Econet the sum of $465 each and on good behaviour.

Their co-accused, Edmore Nyamuedza, was charged with one count of robbery and slapped with an eight-year jail term. He will serve an effective seven years after the magistrate suspended one year on condition he also pays Econet $465.

Eighteen-year-old Paul Zimbudzana, who was also jointly charged with the rest, escaped a custodial sentence after he was given a wholly suspended five-year jail term. Zimbudzana will also get six strokes of the cane.

According to the State, the gang went to Norton on January 25 and 30. On the first occasion, they pounced at Dudley Hall Primary School where they threatened a security guard, Lovemore Tarwakuona, with a knife, robbed him of his cellphone, drained 1 400 litres of diesel from the Econet base station generator and stole a generator battery.

All the stolen property was valued at $18 180. Five days later, the same gang pounced at Norton 1 Primary School where they attacked Sure Mabheka, a security guard.

They robbed him of his mobile phone and attempted to drain diesel from the Econet base station generator, but failed and sped off in a getaway Toyota Hiace vehicle.

The gangs luck ran out when police arrested Chikaka at Total Service Station in Norton who then implicated the rest, leading to their arrest on Wednesday last week.