-soldier also convicted
Ivayinerudo Magarazano
Chiredzi- Siziva Ashton(26), Mlaudzi Talent(20), Shumba Pheneas(25) and Dadirai Saul (23) Blue Circle Bus armed robbers were sentenced to 84 years by Chiredzi Regional Magistrate Judith Zuyu.
Mlaudzi who was acquitted.
Dadirai was sentenced on 3 September 2024 after pleading guilty and the trio were sentenced on Monday after a full trial.
The court heard that Dadirai and his accomplices, Siziva who stays at village7 Peterwen Mkwasine Chiredzi, Mlaudzi who stays at village 19 under Chief Sitauze, Zezani Beitbridge and Shumba who stays at village 2 Dryhoek, Makadho Beitbridge and employed by the Zimbabwe National Army Stationed at Inkomo Barracks , Harare on 17 July 2024 boarded Blue Circle bus at Mbudzi Bus terminus in Harare and paid US$8 each for their tickets. However, their intentions were far from innocent.
At around 4:00 am the next morning, Shumba asked the conductor to stop at Vilivili Bus stop, where Elphase Mugudugudze, who is still at large, entered the bus armed with a C75 9mm pistol. Siziva pointed the gun at the driver, ordering him to drive to a secluded spot, where Mlaudzi and Dadirai joined in the robbery, using Okapi knives to threaten the passengers.
The group made off with a total of R66 170, US$5 932, and ZwG10.
Only R7 000 and US$550 was recovered.
The matter was reported to the police, leading to the recovery of spent cartridges and the arrest of Siziva, Dadirai, and Shumba, who were found with the stolen goods and weapons.
Mlaudzi was arrested the following day, and witnesses later identified the accused in an identification parade.
Ballistic examination matched the recovered pistol with the spent cartridges.
