MARTIN MAWAYA
GWERU– A Kadoma man was sentenced to 39 years in prison for armed robbery and violently assaulting prominent businessman, Dr Tinashe Manzungu, where nearly US$20,000 in cash and goods were stolen.
Clemence Tafireyi Svongera, 40, was found guilty on five counts of armed robbery after a full trial.
He was initially charged with eight counts, but three were withdrawn by the state before plea.
Svongera was charged jointly with Pupurai Sean Kondo, who has since been committed to a mental health facility after being found unfit to stand trial.
Two other suspects, identified as Mahachi and Masamvi-Gokwe, remain at large.
The court heard that the quartet raided Dr Manzungu’s Ridgemont home in Gweru, on November 17, 2021.
They held the family at gunpoint, tied up Dr. Manzungu and assaulted him, before taking away his iPhone and US$15,000 in cash.
The court heard that the four also robbed Dr. Manzungu’s wife, Rutendo, of US$2,175 in cash and goods, and his young brother Tatendaishe, of US$750 in cash and goods.
They further robbed Rutendo Chingwe US$385 and Tawonashe Manzungu of goods and cash worth US$800.
Svongera was sentenced to a total of 39 years in prison by Gweru Regional Magistrate Christopher Maturure.
The magistrate suspended 9 years of the sentence, leaving Svongera to serve an effective 30-year jail term.
Some of the stolen goods worth US$605 and a pistol were recovered from a woman named Rutendo Ross Saitsi, who implicated Svongera and his accomplices in the robbery.
Eggrina Matutu prosecuted.
