By Panashe Karidzagundi
TWO men have been sentenced to effective 6 years imprisonment each following a violent armed robbery streak that rocked Beitbridge targeting airtime vendors in Beitbridge last year.
Tinashe Nkomo (also known as Sadamu/Jack) and Admire Charumbira appeared before Beitbridge Regional Magistrate Charity Maphosa on Tuesday, this week, where they were convicted of robbery.
They were part of nine people, seven of whom have since been acquitted.
The whole group comprised of Nkomo, Future Moyo, Decent Moyo, Obey Chiware, Wiseman Muleya, Tendai Mapira, Khumbulani Mabhena, Admire Charumbira and Ntanganedzeni Muleya.
Nkomo was before his arrest by the Beitbridge Criminal Investigations Department suspected to be a fugitive from South Africa who killed two policemen escorting him from court to prison.
According to Prosecutor Mercy Nyathi, on August 13, 2025, the Gang, acted in common purpose and executed a coordinated plan to rob Vengai Chikati, an airtime vendor based at Dulibadzimu Bus Terminus.
The gang, conducted surveillance before following Chikati to his home.
Upon arrival, four of the gang members (Nkomo, Chiware, Muleya and Mapira), armed with pistols, confronted Chikati at his gate, threatened to shoot him and forcibly took cash amounting to ZAR2,000 and US$1,200, along with a Samsung A05 cellphone, a Nokia handset, and a sling bag containing Econet and NetOne airtime recharge vouchers.
The robbers fled the scene using two getaway vehicles, a white Toyota Probox and a yellow Nissan March, before sharing the proceeds.
Investigations led to the arrest of one suspect who was found selling airtime vouchers at unusually low prices.
This breakthrough resulted in the arrest of the remaining accomplices.
Police recovered part of the stolen property, including airtime vouchers, a cellphone, and Chikati’s sling bag.
A firearm with obliterated serial numbers and live ammunition was also recovered from one of the gang members, Nkomo (also known as Sadamu/Jack)
In sentencing, Maphosa handed each of the Duo (Nkomo and Charumbira) 12 years imprisonment with four years suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour.
An additional two years were suspended on condition that each offender restitutes half of the stolen money amounting to approximately US$1,780 per person.
This leaves each (Nkomo and Charumbira) with an effective six-year custodial sentence.
The recovered property, including a Samsung cellphone and other items, are to be returned to Chikati, the court ordered.