Two Bulawayo men have each been sentenced to an effective eight years in prison after being overpowered and disarmed by members of the public during an attempted armed robbery.
Teddy Karanjisi (32) and Sambulo Ndlovu (48) appeared before a Bulawayo magistrate facing charges of attempted armed robbery.
They were convicted and each handed an effective eight-year jail term.
The court heard that on June 7 at around 9:15 PM, the pair arrived at Africa Teller Shops in Barbourfields, Bulawayo, armed with a black Blow P29 9mm pellet gun, an AK-47 CCCP rifle, and a Colombian knife.
They intercepted a victim who had stepped outside to dispose of rubbish, manhandled her, and forced her back into the shop.
Once inside, the prosecution said, the two produced the pellet gun, pointed it at the victim, and ordered everyone to lie on the floor while they stole cash and mobile phones.
During the robbery, a customer knocked on the shop door from outside.
One of the robbers ordered the customer to enter.
Despite the offenders being armed, the customer confronted them, wrestled them to the ground, and screamed for help.
Members of the public quickly gathered at the scene and assisted in apprehending the duo, leading to their subsequent arrest.
Police recovered the pellet gun, AK-47 CCP rifle, and Colombian knife used in the commission of the offence.