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The pair, James Tungamirai Nyashanu (42) and Timothy Kambudzi (38), armed with an axe, bolt cutter, shovel and iron bars assaulted three residents from Vainona, Borrowdale, and Chisipite before robbing them of goods worth US$38 960 on separate occasions between August and October.

Regional magistrate Mr Simon Rogers Kachambwa sentenced the duo to 36 years each before suspending six years on condition of good behaviour.

Three years were set aside on condition they both restitute the complainants. In passing the sentence Mr Kachambwa said a lengthy imprisonment would send the right signals to would-be offenders.  On August 22 last year, at around 8pm, the pair, in the company of their accomplices who are still at large, connived and proceeded to Rebecca Jackson’s Vainona house.

They were armed with an axe, bolt cutter and iron bars. They gained entry into the house after breaking the bedroom window.  They  ransacked the house and took US$2 500 cash and goods valued at US$4 000. On the second count, on September 14, the gang went to Peter Wilkinson’s Borrowdale house.

They cut the burglar bars using the bolt cutter to gain entry. They stole US$1 000 cash, laptops, jewellery, and clothes, which they loaded into Wilkinson’s Isuzu twin cab, and sped off. They later dumped the vehicle in Chitungwiza.

On October 15 they went to Hammond Des Fontaine house around 2am, armed and stole US$440 cash, laptops, I-pads and cellphones among other things. The gang loaded the loot into Fontaine’s Isuzu KB300 and sped from the scene.

The two managed to untie themselves and made a police report. On the same date, around 4am, police detectives received information to the effect that Nyashanu was at Chirasavana business centre in Seke.

They proceeded there and arrested him. Searches were conducted at his house resulting in the recovery of some of the stolen items.  Kambudzi was later arrested on October 16.
Mr Allen Goche prosecuted.