Pair jailed for holding MSU students hostage

TWO Zvishavane men who held six female Midlands States University students hostage at their home and threatened to kill them before stealing electrical gadgets, have been sentenced to a combined 107 months imprisonment.

Dennis Descent Shumba (39) and Elias Mahonye under Chief Masunda would cover their targets’ faces with a blanket, a court heard yesterday.

They used a machete, catapult, and Okapi to instil fear in the students.

The duo pleaded guilty to unlawful entry and robbery charges when they appeared before Zvishavane Magistrate Shepherd Madiba.

Mr Madiba sentenced Shumba to 56 months in prison and jailed Mahonye for 51 months.

Prosecuting, Mr Talent Tadenyika said: “The accused entered Michelle Ndlovu’s house through an unlocked door and threatened her using a knife and catapult. They forcibly took $40, black laptop bag, black HP laptop, Alcatel phone, black leather hat and a file containing certificates,” said the prosecutor.

“At the same house they also threatened Tanaka Maposa, also a student, and covered her face with a blanket. They forcibly took $10, Sony Experia, Dunns tablet, black laptop bag and bank cards.”

The robbers, said Mr Tadenyika, went on to the next room and ordered Joyce Nyamwenda to lie down and they searched her wallet and took $3, her black HP laptop, Nokia C3 cellphone which was on her bed.

Using the same method of threatening the complainants, the two accused persons went on to rob another three students of their cellphones, cash and laptops. Value stolen was $7 000 and $1 500 was recovered. Before attacking the students, the duo on August 11 this year broke into shop number 7 Kandodo which the complainant, Brian Ncube, uses as his bedroom.

“The two accused used violent threats and took property from Brian Ncube. They threatened him with a machete, Okapi and a catapult. They ordered him to remain silent and covered his face with a blanket,” said the prosecutor.

“They forcibly took $20, a black portable bag, two HP laptops, one LG laptop, Samsung S3 and property valued at $957. The total value recovered is $610.” — @patiemtsiwi