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Midlands Bureau

A 40-YEAR-OLD man from Kadoma, has been sentenced to 39 years in prison for armed robbery and violently assaulting prominent property developer Dr Tinashe Manzungu, stealing nearly $20 000 in cash and goods.

Appearing before Gweru Regional Magistrate Mr Christopher Maturure facing eight counts of armed robbery was Clemence Tafireyi Svongera from Kadoma.

Mr Maturure found him guilty on five counts of armed robbery after a full trial.

Although he was initially charged with eight counts – three were withdrawn by the State before plea.

Mr Maturure said the sentence reflects the severity of the crimes committed and serves as a deterrent to potential offenders.

Svongera was sentenced to a total of 39 years before Mr Maturure suspended nine years of the sentence on condition of good behavior.

That left Svongera to serve an effective 30-year jail term.

Svongera was charged jointly with Pupurai Sean Kondo from Gokwe.

Kondo, however, has since been committed to a mental health facility after being found unfit to stand trial.

Two other suspects, identified as Mahachi and Masamvi remain at large.

It was the State case as presented by Ms Eggrina Matutu that on November 17, 2021, Svongera and his accomplices raided Dr Manzungu’s Ridgemont home in Gweru.

The court heard that the accused held the family at gunpoint, tied up Dr Manzungu and assaulted him, before taking away his iPhone and US$15 000.

The court heard that the four also robbed Dr Manzungu’s wife, Rutendo, of US$2 175 in cash and goods, and his younger 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.

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.