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Fungai Lupande

Mashonaland Central Bureau

Bindura regional magistrate Mr Amos Mbobo has sentenced Peter Gono (30) to 36 years in prison for storming a funeral and stealing over US$3 000 and property at gunpoint.

Gono was facing seven counts of robbery when he appeared before Mr Mbobo.

He was sentenced to 12 years for the first count, another 12 years for counts two to four, and 12 years for counts five and seven.

However, five years were suspended for five years while another year was suspended on the condition that he pays back US$600.

Prosecutor Mr Edward Katsvairo said on July 23, 2021, mourners who were gathered in Mukunyadzi Village in Chiweshe woke up to gunshots at around 1 am.

Gono and his six accomplices stormed the kitchen while wearing face masks. Gono had a shotgun while the others were armed with iron bars and wooden sticks.

Gono asked for Martha Masona and Neria Mazarura told the accused that she was sleeping in the main house.

They started assaulting Mazarura with the iron bars and wooden sticks. The robbers later removed their face masks as they could not hear each other.

After stealing several phones from the six people in the kitchen, they force-marched Mazarura to the main house.

They used a sharp object to force open the door and proceeded to where Masona was sleeping.

They started assaulting her, demanding money from her. The accused threatened to shoot Masona if she refused to comply.

She was force-marched to where Willard Mandaza was sleeping. The robbers ordered Mandaza to surrender money as they threatened to shoot him.

The gang searched his wardrobe and stole US$600 and cell phones. They fired a shot at another bedroom door to gain entry and stole US$3 030.

They then deflated the tyres of three vehicles at the house before disappearing. Gono started using one of the stolen cell phones which was being tracked.

This led to his arrest at Chinamhora Business Centre in Domboshava.