By Staff Reporter

 Three men have been sentenced to 38 years in prison each for their roles in a series of violent armed robberies in Bindura.

The trio, identified as Ladma Mutesa (39), Tapiwa Nyakudya (31), and Sande Saini (32), were convicted of carrying out 10 robberies in the nickel mining town and its surrounding areas. Their accomplices, Mike Mapona (also known as Murefu), Shoti, and Fungai, remain at large.

The robberies took place in Nyakudya Mazarura Village under Chief Masembura, where the group targeted local homes. On the night of April 21, the gang attacked a family of six, breaking into their home by forcing open a back door with iron bars. Armed with iron bars and wooden logs, the robbers manhandled the victims, tied their hands with brick force wire, and demanded their cell phones. They then ransacked the house, stealing US$350 in cash, smartphones, groceries, and other household items.

The following night, the gang struck again in the same village, posing as police officers to deceive their victims. After gaining entry, they tied up three people and robbed them of their valuables, including their phones. One of the victims, who was not at home when the robbers arrived, was ambushed on his return while driving a Toyota Quantum. The gang assaulted him, tied him up in a pigsty, and stole his vehicle. The car was later found abandoned about two kilometers from the scene after it broke down.

Mutesa was arrested on April 23 after a tip-off led police to his whereabouts. He cooperated with the authorities, helping them track down Nyakudya and Saini. The total value of the stolen property was US$15,450, with US$13,450 worth of goods recovered by the police during the investigation.

The robbers' sentencing is seen as a significant victory in the fight against violent crime in the region.