One of the armed robbers involved in a US$74,000 robbery at a farm owned by Wicknell Chivayo’s in-laws in Marondera has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for this crime and four others.
Bigboy Nampungo, 27, was sentenced to 60 years by Harare regional magistrate Jesse Kufa after admitting his role in the robbery. The crime at Alfa Omega Farm was split into two counts. The stolen money was believed to be part of the lobola (bride price) paid by Chivayo to his in-laws.
However, the magistrate consolidated the sentences, allowing the sentences for the first and second counts to run concurrently, the third and fourth counts to run concurrently, and the fifth and sixth counts to run concurrently. This resulted in a reduced sentence of 30 years.
Prosecutor Shambadzeni Fungura presented evidence confirming Nampungo’s involvement in the crimes, a required step in the trial even when the accused pleads guilty.
Fungura told the court that one of the victims, Gerald Gara Muteke, 36, a farmer living at Alfa Omega Farm in Marondera, was asleep with his wife when he heard an unusual noise inside their house.
Fearing trouble, Muteke used his cellphone torch to look under the bedroom door. Moments later, the robbers broke in, demanding cash, and stole US$18,000 in cash, a 9mm pistol, and two Samsung phones.
They also forced Muteke to open a safe, from which they took more valuables. The total value of the stolen items during this part of the robbery was US$25,000, but some items worth US$2,500 were later recovered.
More: The Herald
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