ROBBERS LOCKED UP 73 YEARS:

FOUR robbers convicted of stealing valuables worth over $30 000 were yesterday sentenced to a combined 73 years in jail.

Givemore Maripakwenda (35), Moffat Nyateka (30), Knowledge Mkwananzi (34) and Albert Nyamupinga (28) terrorised Harare residents stealing cars, electrical appliances, mobile phones and laptops.

Regional magistrate Ms Fadzai Mthombeni sentenced Maripakwenda, Mkwananzi and Nyamupinga to 19 years in jail each.

Nyateka was slapped with a 16-year jail term.

Four years were set aside on condition of good behaviour.

The robbers would wear masks and arm themselves with knives, bolt cutters, baseball sticks, knobkerries and axes.

They would threaten death and rape on their victims before looting their valuables.

Prosecuting, Ms Ressy Nyamombe proved that on January 27 at around 11pm, the gang went to Tendai Nyaku- danga’s house in Mandara where they gained entry through a window.

They demanded cash and valuables from the occupants whom they blinded founded with blankets.

They proceeded to ransack the house and stole cash, a laptop and a wedding ring.

Two of the gang members proceeded to the cottage where they confronted Jonathan Mberi and his family.

They took mobile phones before using Mberi’s vehicle, a Subaru, as their gateaway car.

On February 6, the gang broke into Onward Dehwa’s house in Greendale at around 2am.

They assaulted Dehwa and his wife.

They then stole $1 800 in cash, household property, clothing, mobile phones and 10 dressed chickens.

The robbers demanded Dehwa’s car keys and escaped in one of his vehicles.

The gang also stormed another house where they stole property and a car.

Police investigations led to the gang’s arrest.