ASHTON SIziva, who was part of a five-member robbery gang that recently attacked a Beitbridge- bound Blue Circle bus has been sentenced to 84 years in jail after he pleaded guilty to 37 counts of robbery.
In a statement, the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ) said Siziva (26) and his alleged accomplices Talent Mlaudzi (20), Saul Dadirai (23) and Pheneas Shumba (25) acted in connivance with Elphase Mugudubudze who took off to Harare from Beitbridge.
The suspects left Mugudubudze at Vilivili bus stop along Harare-Beitbridge Highway in Mwenezi.
When they got to Harare, they boarded a Blue Circle coach to Beitbridge at Mbudzi bus terminus.
Along the way, Shumba approached the conductor and requested to be dropped off at Vilivili bus stop.
“When the bus stopped, Mugudubudze got into the bus armed with a C75 9mm pistol which he used to threaten the driver whilst the accused persons produced okapi knives and threatened the passengers,” said the NPAZ.
“They ordered the driver to drive the bus to a secluded place where they switched off the engine and bus lights.”
They later ordered the passengers to surrender their belongings and fled the scene soon after the robbery.
- Notorious robber gets 84 year jail term
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Following the arrest, Siziva pleaded guilty to 37 counts of robbery and was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment each of the first six counts.
“He was sentenced to a further 12 years each for count 7 to 37. The 12 years for count 7 to 37 will run concurrently,” the NPAZ has said. Siziva will serve 84 years effectively while Mlaudzi, Dadirai and Shumba will appear again in court on September 11 for continuation of trial.
