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Heather Charema  in Kadoma
A notorious machete-wielding robber, who terrorised Kadoma and Chegutu residents, has been jailed 42 years after being convicted on five counts of armed robbery.

Christopher Tasiyana (35), who is part of a gang whose other members are still at large, raided houses, attacking residents and travellers with machetes, guns and iron bars.

It is believed that the gang robbed their victims of cash amounting to $24 420, a 303 rifle, cellphones, gold and other documents. Chinhoyi regional magistrate Mr Amos Mbobo recently convicted Tasiyana after a fully contested trial. Tasiyana will serve an effective 35 years after Mr Mbobo suspended five years on condition that he restitutes some his victims.

A further two years were suspended on condition of good behaviour. The court heard that on December 2, 2017, Tasiyana — who was in the company of Luckmore Chibira (alias Ronald), Wisdom Tariro, Valentine Mutasa, one Master, Oscar Mamvura and another alleged accomplice known only as Digoz — violently wrestled a 303 rifle from Andrew Tonga. They also took a magazine with five rounds and a Chubb safe containing $1 800 cash.

In another incident, Tasiyana reportedly forced open Bester Muvezwa’s room using an iron bar before demanding keys to the safe. He allegedly assaulted Muvezwa all over his body with a machete, inflicting injuries on his right hand, left shoulder and head.

Fearing for his life, Muvezwa surrendered the keys before Tasiyana searched him and took a wallet with $350 cash, various documents, a motor vehicle censor card and cellphones. The accused subsequently stole $5 000 from a safe in the office after he forced it open with an iron bar. Most of Tasiyana’s victims were ruthlessly attacked and bear scars from the attacks.

In passing sentence, Mr Mbobo said the ruthlessness with which the gang carried out the robberies deserved a harsh sentence.

“Your moral blameworthiness is very high in that you were part of a gang which carried out a series of armed robberies and had been planned and executed with meticulous precision. You had no compassion for your victims whom you attacked with firearms, machetes and iron bars.” He described Tasiyana’s conduct as callous, adding that the courts would be failing in their duties if stiff penalties are not imposed on people like him.