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for robbing four supermarkets in Harare at gunpoint.
Garikai Dikito would threaten to shoot till operators if they did not hand him cash.
Dikito (35) was doing his final year Masters in Peace, Leadership and Good Governance.
He committed the robberies while on attachment at the National Constitution Assembly.
Dikito had pleaded not guilty to five counts of armed robbery when his trial began before regional magistrate Mr Peter Kumbawa.
But he was found guilty of all the counts after the State proved a solid case against him.
Mr Kumbawa sentenced him to 22 years in jail on all the counts. However, seven years were suspended on condition of good behaviour.
In passing sentence, Mr Kumbawa noted that Dikito committed a very serious offence, which is on the rise hence the need to deter would be offenders.
Prosecutor Mr Norman Tsarwe proved that on July 29 last year, Dikito hatched a plan to rob TM Supermarket, Orr Street branch.
At around 7pm, he armed himself with a Noringo pistol and waited for the supermarket to close.
When the shop was about to close, Dikito pulled on a woollen mask and forced his way in.
He took out the pistol and ordered a till operator to surrender all the cash. Dikito stole US$2 385 and managed to get out of the shop without anyone realising what had happened.
On September 2, Dikito pounced on OK Queensdale branch armed with the same pistol and waited for the shop to close.
He again forced his way in, pulled on his woollen mask and ordered everybody inside to lie down.
Dikito approached a till operator demanding cash but the day’s takings had already been taken to the cash office.
It is said Dikito ordered the shop manager to go and collect the money from the cash office and threatened to shoot the till operator if he delayed.
On realising that the manager was taking his time to bring the cash, Dikito made his way out of the supermarket empty-handed.
On the third count, Dikito robbed OK Robson Manyika Avenue branch of US$100 after he went to the cash office and demanded money from two cashiers, Blessing Maravanyika and Yamurai Kambozo who were on duty that day.
Dikito took US$100 in $2 notes and escaped without being noticed by the guard and other members of staff.
On October 14, Dikito robbed Centre Ape Supermarket of US$112 after ordering everyone in the supermarket to lie down.
He took the money from Nomathemba Khumalo, a till operator. However, as he left, the security manager, Mr Joel Mpofu, and a security guard followed Dikito to a commuter omnibus rank were he boarded a Malbereign-bound kombi.
Mr Mpofu boarded the same kombi and sat next to the suspect.
He suddenly grabbed Dikito and disarmed him with the assistance of fellow passengers leading to his arrest.