12 years jail for Cowdray Park gun point robber
A MAN from Cowdray Park suburb in Bulawayo has been sentenced to 12 years in jail for robbing two men of about $700 at gun point.
Skhumbuzo Ngwenya (34) and his unnamed accomplice who is still at large threatened Tichafa Nyamombe and Elison Gonye with firearms and demanded cash from them.
His wife’s testimony nailed him as blew his alibi, saying he was not at home at the time the crime was committed.
The duo took $711 and drove off in a green Volkswagen Golf.
Bulawayo Regional Magistrate Mr Trynos Utawashe yesterday convicted Ngwenya despite his plea of not guilty and sentenced him to 12 years in jail.
“Two years will be suspended from your sentence for good behaviour. You will serve an effective 10 year jail term.
“Armed robbery is on the rise and this court will never tire to remove perpetrators from society. The guns you used have not yet been recovered and your alleged accomplice is still at large. This can only mean people are still in danger. An imprisonment sentence would send a strong message to those who wish to commit similar offences,” said Mr Utawashe.
In defence, Ngwenya told the court that he spent all his time drinking with his friends at Cowdray Park terminus and at the time the offence was committed he was at home with his wife.
His wife, however, denied that her husband was at home at the stated time. She said her husband got home at 8PM. Nyamombe testified that Ngwenya and his accomplice blocked their truck at the intersection of Gwanda Road and Cecil Avenue.
“I was forced to apply emergency brakes. Ngwenya and his friend came to our truck and asked if we worked at Lobels but we told them we were from Neal Bakery. All of a sudden they drew firearms and each of them stood at the doors to the truck. They demanded cash and Gonye gave them $711 which was in a plastic bag that we had collected where we were delivering bread,” he said.
Prosecuting, Mr Robin Mukura said on October 31, Ngwenya and his accomplice pulled up in front of Nyamombe’s vehicle and threatened the two men at gunpoint.— @tannytkay.