Cowdray Park gangster sentenced

ONE of the 10 men, who went on a robbery and raping spree in Bulawayo’s Cowdray Park and Luveve suburbs, was yesterday sentenced to five years in prison.

Hillary Dube (26) yesterday got a lesser sentence compared to eight members of his gang who were jailed a combined 629 years for multiple counts of rape, robbery, unlawful entry, kidnapping and carjacking between December last year and January this year.

Dube was facing six counts of unlawful entry, robbery, kidnapping and was acquitted of four counts.

His trial was delayed after he was shot by police trying to escape.

Dube appeared before Bulawayo Magistrate Ms Sibongile Msipa-Marondedze yesterday who found him guilty of two counts of unlawful entry and robbery before sentencing him to five years in prison.

She suspended a year on condition that he does not within the next five years commit similar crimes.

“You were a gang armed with knives, machetes and iron bars which you used to induce fear in residents. The State, however, failed to link you to the other four counts hence the sentence of five years for the two counts,” said Ms Msipa-Marondedze.

Dube was part of a gang that terrorised residents of Cowdray Park and Luveve suburbs including teachers at Luveve High School who the gang members sexually assaulted.

Ms Caroline Matanga prosecuted. cynthiamthembo1 @