SEVEN Harare men who robbed an octogenarian couple of over US$60 000 in 2022 have each been jailed for 12 years, the National Prosecution Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ) has reported.
Paul Makamelo, Kelvin Zimomo, Sign Makamelo, Partially Makamelo, Tonderai Norest Chibvongodze, Christopher Sithole and Innocent Kasu were convicted by the Harare Magistrates’ Court of robbery.
The seven attacked and robbed James Abrahams, 89, and his wife at their home on November 29, 2022 around 7pm.
The elderly couple was in the bedroom when four of the robbers WHO were armed with knives and iron bars pounced.
They stormed into the room demanding money and started ransacking it. Abrahams told them that he did not have money and one of the robbers kicked and instructed him to sit down.
Another robber produced a nylon cable which they used to tie the complainant and his wife before instructing them to sit on the floor.
Some of the robbers picked up the safe which was in the room from the floor and put it on top of a chair which was in the bedroom whilst the others were assaulting the complainant and his wife.
They untied the complainant’s wife who went to the cupboard and retrieved the keys for the safe and handed them over to one of the robbers. They failed to open the safe and took it away. The safe contained US$55 000, gold and other valuables.
They locked the complainant and his wife inside the bedroom and left. A police report was made and investigations led to the arrest of the robbers.
The total value stolen was US$62 415 and only US$6 000 was recovered. — New Ziana