$15 armed robbers jailed seven years each

TWO men from Gweru have each been sentenced to seven years in prison for a $15 robbery.

Tawanda Garandemo (23) and Dumisani Ndlovu (25) pleaded guilty to two counts of armed robbery when they appeared before Gweru Magistrate Mr Musaiwona Shotgame.

On the first count, Garandemo and Ndlovu got two years imprisonment each.

On count two, Mr Shotgame sentenced the two to five years imprisonment each.

Prosecuting, Mr Peason Muringani said on June 7 at around 12PM, the two men met the first complainant near Mabandla Gardens in Gweru.

They asked her for directions to Gweru’s Central Business District (CBD).

“The complainant who was on her way to the CBD led the accused. The accused persons walked behind the complainant for a short distance before they grabbed her by the neck demanding cash.

“One of them grabbed the complainant’s blue jacket which had a Huawei cellphone before stabbing her on the right knee with a knife. The value stolen is $45 and $40 was recovered,” said Mr Muringani.

He said on June 15 at around 4AM, the second complainant was on her way to Kombayi Green Market, Gweru, when she met the two accused persons.

“Ndlovu grabbed the complainant by her neck and pulled her into the grass while Garandemo produced a knife before robbing her of a Nokia 1208 cellphone and $10 cash.

“The value stolen is $20 and $10 was recovered,” said Mr Muringani.