Faith Ndou
MASVINGO-It never rains but pours for notorious armed robber, Daniel Munyanyi (50) as Masvingo Regional Magistrate Innocent Bepura added 77 more years in addition to the 72 he sentenced him last week.
Munyanyi of Ndume Village under Chief Ndanga pleaded guilty to 19 counts of robbery, unlawful entry, theft and attempted murder committed in Masvingo and surrounding areas between March 2025 and February 2026.
The court heard that on July 23 2025 at Village 22 Makondo in Mushandike, Munyanyi pointed a firearm at Trybest Madlazi and threatened to kill him before robbing him of a Tecno cellphone and US$300.
On August 7 2025 at 111 Zimuto Street in Mucheke A Masvingo, he pointed a firearm at Shepherd Mutetwa and stole US$5 300, a Dell laptop, an Honor cellphone and airtime.
On December 26 2025 at New Stands in Chivi, he used violence and pointed a firearm at Forgiveness Chinyoka before taking US$6 000 and a Samsung S21 cellphone.
On January 22 2026 at Village Munana under Chief Madyangove, he threatened Nyarai Pirimukai with a firearm and stole US$460, a Dell laptop and R700.
On January 21 2026 at the same village, Munyanyi again used a firearm to rob Josphat Madzivire of US$25 and an Itel A20 cellphone.
On February 13 2026 at Stand Number 29580 Bandwe Street in Rujeko C, he used a firearm to rob Masvingo Ward 8 councillor Richard Musekiwa of several cellphones including a Huawei P30 Lite, Samsung Note 9, Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra and a Samsung silver laptop.
During the same incident, Musekiwa was shot in the lower abdomen leading to an attempted murder charge.
The court further heard that on March 9 2025 at Stand Number 26807 Changwira Street in Mucheke, Masvingo Munyanyi forced entry into a house by opening a dining room window without permission.
On the same date and at the same address, he stole US$600, R500, a Samsung Galaxy A03 and an Honor cellphone belonging to Hanet Muhleka.
On March 30 2025, Munyanyi broke a closed window and unlawfully entered Masvingo Polytechnic where he stole a Tecno cellphone belonging to Graciano Tanaka Mangezi.
On April 1 2025, at house number 19283 Chikuni Street in Rujeko C, he forced open a door and unlawfully entered the premises without permission. At the same location he stole an iPhone 14 Pro Max and US$700 belonging to Blessed Mutize.
On May 4 2025, at Number 13 Marula Street in Rhodene, Munyanyi forced open a kitchen door to gain entry into a house. He stole a Samsung colour television belonging to Victor Mutya.
On June 12 2025, at house number 5657 Habakkuk Crescent in Hillside, Masvingo he forced open a locked kitchen door to gain entry and stole a 42-inch Fusion colour television belonging to Takawira Nyahwi.
On July 25 2025, at 27323 Autumn Street in Zimre Park Masvingo, Munyanyi opened a locked garage door and unlawfully entered the premises. He then stole a 42-inch Hisense television belonging to Rodrick Maluku.
During mitigation, Munyanyi told the court that he is married with three children aged 22, 12 and four and survived through broiler farming earning between US$25 and US$30 per month.
When asked why he committed the crimes, he told the court that he was possessed by evil spirits.
In his ruling, Magistrate Bepura said the offences were serious and the use of a firearm in several robberies showed that the offender is dangerous to the public.
“The offender committed multiple robberies under aggravating circumstances and even shot one complainant. The community cannot continue living in fear. The offender must be removed from society,” said Bepura.
The court sentenced Munyanyi to 10 years imprisonment for each of the six robbery counts, seven years for attempted murder and 10 years combined for the remaining counts of theft and unlawful entry, bringing the total sentence to 77 years in prison.
Liberty Hove prosecuted.
